That's Not Natural...

So I'm on a new kick. I read several different blogs occasionally and one is written by a mom who is very conscious of what her family uses on their bodies and puts in their bodies. More and more I'm disgusted by the ingredients in things I use. And I've become more aware of ingredients with Emersen. I've said before if we treated ourselves like we do babies, we'd be a lot healthier. We make sure they eat pure food, veggies and fruits especially. And it's HIGH priority that they get enough quiet time, sleep time and play time. At some point, we stopped making those priorities for ourselves, which isn't helping anyone. In the crunch for time, we've moved to "quick fixes" and in the effort to be a good steward of our money, we've settled for what is cheapest. Unfortunately, that's, in my opinion, caused us to scrimp on our stewardship of our bodies and planet. I mean, I just didn't know about some ingredients. 

With Emersen, who's hyper sensitive to air, we have to watch all ingredients in cleaning products and bath products. We were going minimally fragrance free and now I'm leaning towards more natural products. For myself, a year or so ago I started using soap free body wash as it worked better for my own sensitive skin. And lately, after reading some blogs, I've started pursuing more natural products - minimally that I can pronounce the ingredients, but more so in using things with plant based or natural ingredients. I read about face care - that castor oil really helps deep cleanse and other oils are needed to moisturize. That oil dissolves oil, not water. And I had started using Nuetrogena Naturals Purifying Scrub before this and loved it. Looked at the ingredients and it had castor oil in it - and I had never felt like makeup was getting off my face when washing with other products. I went for more natural Mac & Cheese, as the cheap versions have so many dyes and colors in it. Creeps me out a bit - though I LOVE me some Kraft mac and cheese.

The above picture is of the new Suave Dry Shampoo. I had previously used Tresemme's Dry Shampoo, which I liked in a pinch. I'm almost out, and saw Suave's. In my new quest, I checked the ingredients. DO YOU SEE THE INGREDIENTS!? Isopropane and Butane. I'm sure there is stuff like that in things I use all the time that I just don't know about yet, but I know that I put that can RIGHT back on the shelf. Ignorance may be bliss. But now I know, and I can't handle that.

Another product I needed to refill was moisturizer. Burt's Bee's is available at Meijer so I looked into it. This Night Creme was a bit expensive for my taste. But one look at the kind I had been using previously, and the ingredient list that was SO long and sounded like chemistry class convinced me. And I will plug this product - it's luxurious! I've read some negative reviews online where it didn't soak in for people and was like glue. No, no. Smells amazing and my face feels GREAT! 

And here is why I'm even writing about this:

The little lady in my life. She's made me more aware of what I use on her and put in her. And if I care enough to do it for her, I should do it for myself and my family. We want to be good stewards of the body God gave us, and when you really start thinking about it, we put a lot of unnatural stuff on us and in us. Especially us females with all our smelly stuff and shiny stuff and product. My next move is mineral makeup since that's an everyday item. I've also converted on my shampoo/conditioner, but not ready to make judgement/pronouncement on that yet. My all purpose cleaner and dish soap are now plant based as well. Baby steps or I'll go broke. What are you doing to go more natural or pure? What products gross you out? Do you think it's worth the cost? I'm not braiding my hair and buying bell bottoms yet, but I'm embracing my hippy dippy natural side one product at a time.

I Just Love Him

This girl LOOOOOOOVES her daddy. A lot. One of her favorite past times is to watch him in the backyard, in this case he was grilling dinner. She'll beat on the window, or smoosh her face into the glass. She thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. And I love that. I hope she still thinks this when she's 13 and 33. 

Can you believe she's 10 months old? 

Biggie & Smalls

You know how people have nicknames that are opposites? Like a tall person is called Shorty, or a thin person called Heavy. Here's Biggie and Smalls, from left to right of course.

This is Stella, and she's technically 3 days older than Emersen. She was BORN 3 days earlier than Emersen via emergency C-Section. This took place when she was about 32 weeks along! This little tough girl has always breathed on her own and been fiesty ever since. 

I believe she's currently pushing 10 lbs. Her 3 month size shorts are still too big. Our 12 month pants are too short. Such is life. 

She is SO cute. I tell her and her mom over and over again when they're around. It's probably annoying. But she IS. SO. CUTE. She's playing with Emersen's soccer toy - early interest? Her big brother could teach her a thing or two. She thought Emersen was funny, she kept laughing at her. And recently her Aunt gave her a Capri Sun and powdered donut for breakfast - hey, it was vacation. So she's living large! 

I think seeing these two babies together makes you consider what a miracle ANY baby really is. How amazing it is that they were born so close together, but are so different. Each unique in their size, smile, development and habits. Wow God. Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, and I think these ladies illustrate this so well. I've said this before, and I'll say it again, once I had experienced the process of growing a baby and seeing how the parts of your body work and adapt to carry a baby (especially a huge baby) that I don't know how you can question whether God, the one and only, created us and on purpose with purpose. It's all too intricate and perfectly designed. 

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, 

not only bc I see it, 

but bc by it I see everything else."

 C. S. Lewis

Workin' Girl

Remember "Take Your Daughter To Work Day"? I went with my dad once in elementary school - maybe more, I specifically remember it then because this other girl from my class, Meghana, went too because her dad worked at the same place. Fun times. A little off topic? I wander.

Em had to come with me to the office today. Thank the Lord for employers who love kids! We had a office-ful today at one point. I'll have pictures of that too come. Otherwise how would we have this gate at the office? Note the chewed hole to the left - that's from dogs. Our office is also dog friendly! 

Em was busy today with her toys as you can see. Also, she's STANDING everywhere and all the time. She got herself up to the gate and stood up. Her teensy little problem now is that she doesn't know how to get back down and so she cries. We're working on teaching her to fall down on her bum - she'll do it if you give her one of your hands. Baby steps, ya know? Literally. 

She also exhibited some separation anxiety today that we haven't really seen before. She didn't want to go to my co-workers willingly. She wrapped her little arm completely around mine. And when I still passed her off to my boss, she teared up and had a BIG frown. Pa-the-tic. She got the short end of the stick on a compassionate mommy - sorry dear. Please don't give me any "Just wait" comments on this - I'm not naive enough to think I won't feel bad for her on certain things (gross baby food making her barf - I felt terrible for her on that), but everybody out there might as well accept that on the sentimental scale for kids/developments/growing up I'm low to very low. I'd say I err on the high expectations for her; I'm afraid of baby-ing her too much. I've just been around folks in the past that perish the thought of their little one growing up and end up, in some cases/my opinion, holding them back at times. 

As a person who is NOT a risk taker and plays it safe, I want to take ANY opportunity to push Em towards new things and encourage her to embrace them joyfully. SO, I might hand you my kid randomly so she'll get used to strangers. I also won't say "oh no" when she falls or bumps herself - I say "get over it Emersen"....JUST KIDDING! We usually clap for her or say "nice save" or something and move on. I'm afraid of raising a "T-ball" generation child so there. The end.

That's My Daddy

Emersen looooooves her daddy. One time she was crying, I was holding her, and Wes wasn't even paying attention. She just looked over and laughed at him. Another time he was standing there, with his arms crossed, and she just giggles. Something special with daughters and dads apparently!

Wes was cutting the grass in the back yard. Our sliding glass door in the kitchen looks out over the backyard. She kept climbing up on her knees and looking out and banging on the window and waving to him. When he finished, he came over to play with her from the other side. The first time he touched the glass, she tried to lick his finger where he was touching the door. Silly girl. Then she did whatever he did! 

Every day I find myself thinking babies are a lot like puppies. Right now, Emersen runs to greet you when you walk in the door and climbs up your leg. She is actually "woofing" like a dog, because she's learned it from her musical table. You can (sometimes) ask "What does a doggie say?" and she'll make the noise. Same with "What does the kitty cat say?" She gets out one of her books about dogs and will woof with it as well. 

We sometimes clap to get her attention and ask her to come or come here. We have a gate up to make sure she doesn't get out. And we have to make sure she has water and food. I'm just sayin....

I rest my case...

Wes was playing Wii tennis or fencing here. She just wanted to sit at his feet and watch him. It was like she just needed to touch him, and his foot was enough. I'm like that with him sometimes too. Just need to know he's close. These Cooper girls are pretty big fans of the man of the house - we're very grateful for all he does for us because we're pretty spoiled girls. 

Gallery

I'm just behind on pictures - she's 9 1/2 months old and I haven't put up her 9 month picture. At least I don't think I did...

Hello there, what's your name? 

Yeesh, is it hot in here?

 

I'm ferocious, look at my teeth - all four of them.

We got this from a lady at an Indy Farmer's Market, but she's on Etsy. I'll have to find out what her store is.

Emersen's new favorite and hilarious past time...Emersen burrito. She thinks it's hilarious. Wes tickles her while she's wrapped up even, and she just laughs. Wes has flashbacks to being a kid and his dad doing this to him and Bryce - except they knew what he was doing.

Belated Late Nights

Started on Sunday night:

Well we have been so fortunate that once Emersen started sleeping through the night we haven't had any problems with her doing it every night. Once when we were traveling we accidentally woke her up after a day of barely any napping. She cried and cried. I had to lay her on me for a bit but laid her back down and she went to sleep. And then tonight, which is why I am posting so late, she woke up cring around midnight. She has been constipated in the unproductive way - can't get it all done at once so goes frequently but not easily. So her butt is getting raw again and she's screaming when we change her. Add in getting 2-3 teeth as well.

We just transitioned Emersen to soy formula. Cheaper for sure. And she didn't have an eczema reaction. But the last time Em had the pooping issues that led to a raw butt was transitioning to ALL formula. Sensitive little thing. So I'm taking night duty if anything else comes up. I put the liquid Mylanta on her, plus what little Aquafor I could slap on her. And laid her back down and she's been asleep for awhile. I'm not yet. I am so thankful to know I have Wes to help me. He had her almost all day while I bridesmaided it up at a bachelorette party tonight and pool time with them today. Wonderful man.

For all the wonderful help Wes, he is still human and imperfect, as am I. This week Matthew West, a Christian musician, said a couple things on KLOVE radio. He was talking about his song "Strong Enough" which if you haven't heard it, check it out for sure. But he said (not exact quote) "God did not create us to be self-sufficient. He didn't create us to be strong enough alone. The American dream is 'dream it and you can do it yourself' but this is opposite of the gospel." When I posted that on Facebook, it got a lot of "Likes" and comments. I think we all agree in our heads but often don't demonstrate we rest in this truth (2 Corinthians 12:9, among others). Every day we're all going through something - even if it's not a "big" item/situation, it IS your daily reality and therefore a big deal to you. And we were not created to do it alone - we all have the need for a Savior because God made us that way and provided His Son to fill the need. I can't imagine life without the hope of Christ - I rest in knowing He's on my side, He's looking out for me and has a plan for my life. I know that when hardships come, it's because He knows I can handle it.

1 Corinthians 10:13
New International Version (NIV)
¹³ No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

He allows the tough things and the good things each day, but we can rest in a constant, that this is another day and it is ultimately good because God made it.

Psalm 118:24
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
²⁴ This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us ^(A)rejoice and be glad in it. 

God is the only way out to things we think we can't handle. God is the only answer, the only way to finding your purpose in life, your joy in life and your eternity after death. Sounds simple doesn't it? Sheesh, why do we always complicate things?

I've been trying to rest in God's truths lately. This is something Wes and I have discussed; how we believe the lies that little voice chattering on in our head says about finances, health, status, jobs, and so forth. Instead, we should be filling our head and heart with something that doesn't change depending on what type of day you have at work or how you feel - and that's God's word. It's the truth we should fill our head with to knock out the negative and complaining voice.. The youth at my church recently did a series called "One Month to Live" and questioned whether how we were living is how we would live if we had 30 days to live. And yesterday, this verse was on my iPhone bible app reading plan:

Psalm 39:4
English Standard Version (ESV)
 ⁴"O LORD,^(A) make me know my end
   and what is the measure of my days;
   let me know how fleeting I am!

I don't know about you other parents out there, but I feel like I evaluate how I spend my time and money, what my attitude is and what my priorities are now that another little being is dependent on these things. It's easier when they're tiny, nice and cute to think of it - we should think that way about our spouses but they're not as tiny & cute. It is a challenge to balance daily life/struggles with your own faith as well as ministering to your little one through how you parent/love/live.

No pressure.