Fina Drea Fina Drea 23 yr. old Pastors Wife, Mother of 2 Boys under 3. Cloth Diapering, babywearing, photography mama 
Articles
No Weekly Winners this week...
2008-06-08 12:12:00 Since im traveling today I decided to skip posting weekly winners...That and Ive posted TONS of photos this week... so ill give my blog a break from the pic overload :-)I'll end the week though with a few words from Lubbers...He gets up to go potty...Daddys in the shower...Mommys checking her email...He walks into our small bedroom bathroom to pee...Sits down on the toilet and begins to talk to his daddy (who was in the shower)He ends his short conversation with..."Don't come out. I dont want to see you naked."Then walks out ... gives mama a kiss...and goes to bed all by himself.He is growing up so fast. More About: Winners , Week , Weekly
Must be pic week :-)
2008-06-07 20:32:00 I must say my blogs been pretty PIC HEAVY this week...but thats all Ive done.. taken photos!Im suppose to leave tomorrow for a week long trip. My old friend from High School is getting married.. so ill travel to my home town for that wedding.. as well as a visit w/ Nana and Papa.All this photography though has kept me from packing and cleaning! Im going to be very busy tonight.. Did I mention theres another photo shoot tonight...Today though I took photos of a college grad at our church... and her lil' friend Hannah. Hannah also goes to our church.. and the kids at church joke that shes Calebs older girlfriend. ;-)I think she finds him cute.. although she doesnt realize hes only 3 and shes 7!Hes just big for his age :-)Enjoy.. I probably wont post again until tomorrow night or possibly before my trip. I doubt ill have time though.View more pics HERE More About: Week
Learning Elements
2008-06-07 15:55:00 So I found this photographers blog the other day off my friend Jaimes blog. I loved her work.. and found her photographs to have a unique crisp look to them.. and I wanted to know how!Ive been editing most of my photos with a program called Picasa. Its a free program that anyone can easily download off the internet.I used it because I was familiar with it.. and it was extremely easy to use.What I am realizing though is that with something a bit more complicated to learn you can do far more. I have Photoshop Elements ... I just need to get use to it :-) and more familiar with it..Because it ROCKS!!The photographer that I admired the other day.. uses photoshop. :-)So I am willing to try it in order to get the look she gets.Heres some photos I edited today...BTW shooting pics of my kids is harder than any other child.. Something about photographing other kids.. its just easier most of the time.This was Taites reaction with most of the photos taken... More About: Learning
School Portraits
2008-06-06 19:28:00 Today I took photographs for 6 home school kiddos.They came out precious. I took 186 ... wow.:-)Here are a few...The girls enjoyed the camera more than the boys ;-)See more of the photos HERE More About: School , Portraits
Dreams - Long Fish Poo
2008-06-06 02:19:00 This evening Caleb told me he wanted to read this book my mom got him. Its a book about a Dog and Puppy that take care of a Baby for an afternoon in the park. The book has almost no words though.. so you make up the story.Caleb took the book to daddy though (since he was home tonight) and said "I want you to read this..." and as they sat down in the lazy boy together Caleb then said..."Daddy... I want to dream about this book.":-)Caleb recently has been really curious about dreams... and why we have dreams. Each morning he tells me about his dream. Most times he makes no sense AT ALL.. but its neat to hear him jabber so excitedly about a dream he had.Some nights he tells me he doesnt want to dream about the crocodile.. and I just tell him to pray to Jesus that he can dream about funny things... He then says "ok... I will."Im off to finish a Lifetime movie I started... its really good!Below are like 4 videos from the past day or two. One of them is of our fish tank full of baby black... More About: Dreams , Fish , Long
Morning Bikes
2008-06-05 04:21:00 Travis and I have been bike riding almost every morning for the past few days. We enjoy it. The kids enjoy it.. its just a nice escape for us... although its hard work :-)My legs are not in shape. Most of my workouts consist of abdominals or building lean muscle... so I dont really strain things or get overly hot during my workouts ... with bike riding though you get hot FAST and your legs burn. Atleast mine do!So it is a work out... but a good one... and I am thankful my husband can take that 30 - 45 minutes with us in the morning. Normally Travis wakes up around 4am... and that way he gets his praying time, studying and such done before we even wake. This allows him a bit of time with us in the morning... since during the day he is normally really busy... and many nights he has meetings and what not.Today after our bike ride I put the kids down for their quiet times... and got some laundry done. After the boys were up (Caleb just reads during this time, Taite sleeps) we went outsi... More About: Bikes , Morning
My Cartoon Network Spill
2008-06-04 19:29:00 I know this will some nerves. I know it :-)But these are just my thoughts on this small subject.... that I find partly humorous... This is not meant to offend those who think differently or do differently.Check this photo out...That was taken last weekend while I was staying at a hotel in VA. In the lobby was this HUGE flat screen TV... and while waiting in the lobby w/ some family I browsed the TV channels for something to entertain the oh so tired Lubbers. The Hotel only had 1 cartoon channel... No Disney.. no Noggin.. no PBS. Just Cartoon Network .When I turned that TV on my son was a total zombi...He wouldnt take his eyes off it! The shows were so dumb... the one he was watching there was about people shooting these goo gun type things to knock pimples off people. I mean really dumb...And that night while in the hotel I took a shower and turned it on again... since I needed something to entertain him while I rinsed off the pool water... and when I got out I heard STUPID THIS, STU... More About: Cartoon Network
The Poo was in his shoe...
2008-06-03 19:10:00 This afternoon I was tidying up.. walk into the boys room and smell POOP instantly... I look for Taite and see DRIPPY SMELLY POO going down his leg... into his SHOES and onto the floor/stool he was fixing to climb.I just yelled "STOP!"and Taite looks at me in fear haha... and I then yank him up and stand him in the bath tub...He had his croc shoes on... a romper and of course a cloth diaper.Poop..... everywhere.Let me explain how nasty it was.I had to wash him with GLOVES ON! I couldnt stand to touch it (it was that bad) It was so smelly.. and in so many cracks and creases... to reach my hand in that and clean things off... was just to much for me.After getting him washed and cleaning the disturbingly nasty cloth diaper... I then have to go throughout our home looking for poop. I found it in our hallway... and on the floors in Calebs room. Thankfully those were the only two places. Our home has hardwood floors so that was easily cleaned... but still gross.I then have to go clean our... More About: Shoe
He melted!
2008-06-03 16:00:00 While I was gone in VA Travis had to watch our sick lil baby Taite ... poor Burger had it rough. He just would not eat! We are still unsure to this day what he had.. and what Caleb has right now... but thankfully he is much better now and is showing no signs of sickness.For about 3 days though he ate almost nothing. Maybe a piece of smushed peaches here... or a cracker there... but thats it.He pretty much just drank fluids.When I got home from VA he looked so thin!! Taite was slender to begin with.. but now he is just WAY thin to me. Im use to chunky babies :-). If any of you remember Caleb was one chunky guy. Id get stopped in public by people asking me if he was mine.. and when I said yes they'd then ask "what do you feed him!?" because he was so big for such a small mom. :-)I must say though even with the loss of the chunks he is still oh so cute :-) and full of spunk.To those curious why he has a disposable on...He woke up from a nap stinky.. and I had no cloth diapers in my dia...
It all fell into place...
2008-06-03 03:03:00 After the long 4 hour trip without AC in our Nissan Altima (that has almost 200,000 miles on it); we knew it was time to invest in a new car. We also own a 96' Mercury Mini Van that someone GAVE us when we lived in Ohio. That was such a blessing to us.. but sadly the van has been giving us a lot of trouble...On top of that it also has no AC (it didn't have it when we got it). In Ohio that isn't to big of a problem... but in a state where average temps in the summer are in the high 90's... its a problem for me (especially since we have young kids).Since I will be traveling a bit this summer Travis really wanted to provide his family with a safe and dependable vehicle.Its just a scary thought to have a car that may break down while traveling alone w/ two small children. You cant even trust some cops these days.. let alone a stranger.We finally are in a place that allows us the financial means to purchase a nice mini van... and today was just perfect evidence of Gods hand in the en... More About: Place
Thoughts on I am Legend - new Template
2008-06-02 16:22:00 Last night Travis and I watched the movie I am Legend w/ Will Smith. I was hesitant to watch it because my friend Kelly said it was really scary... so scary that she actually walked out of it at the theater. :-) hope she doesnt mind me sharing that HAHA.I wanted to see it because my mom told me she liked it.. and I figured if she could stand to watch it.. I could :-)My thoughts..I found it fairly clean (for the sort of movie it was)! I thought for sure it would of had a ton of cursing... a nude scene of some sort and major gut and blood... but it didnt.I remember one curse word in the entire movie.. and it was during that scene that Will Smith was yelling at a manican (sp?)That was it for cursing..No nudityNo sex scenesThe gore wasn't like I thought... I didn't find it very gory at all to be honest. I thought there were a few parts that were "bloody" but very little. It was just really scary and the "dark seeker" creature/people things were kind of disturbing looking. Well.. not k... More About: Thoughts , Template , I Am Legend
Few Videos & Why...
2008-06-02 02:02:00 I have a few videos below I found cute from my weekend trip. I wrote up a post about why the trip was bad. It wasnt Calebs fault btw... I think some of you may of thought it was due to Caleb.. but trust me it wasnt.I have to pray about it a bit more.. but for now ill hold off on posting why the weekend was a mess :-)For now enjoy the short videos...On the way to VA with AC. Its ironic what we found funny on the way up (opening windows)... was not very funny on the way home. Infact it was down right misrable!Check out my sweaty appearance on the way back... In the elevator on the way to the pool... More About: Videos
It may infact be...
2008-06-01 18:12:00 Hand-foot-and-mouth disease..You all may of been right..Caleb went down for quiet time this morning before sunday school. We went in to get him for class... he was asleep (not like him)When he woke up an hour later... he was so hot!I took his temp 101.2I asked him what hurt. He said his tongue.No sores yet... but he atleast can tell me what he feels like (unlike Taite)He is very weak... doesnt want to eat. He almost acts like he cant even stand.. to get him to pee was an act of congress. He is now laying down in my bed watching the little mirmaid.Poor lil man.Taite ate breakfast this morning (1st time in 3 days!!)so he is feeling better.Heres the symtoms for this disease.. incase other moms arent familiar with it (like me)The signs and symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease include:* Fever* Sore throat* Painful red blister-like lesions on the tongue, mouth, palms of the hands or soles of the feet* Headache* Fatigue* Irritability in infants and toddlers* Loss of appetiteThe usual pe...
Weekly Winners - May 25-31
2008-06-01 14:09:00 At the ChapelTesting the WatersWith LubbersMy Chalk Art & Toes to Match More About: Winners , Weekly
Help me out
2008-06-01 00:10:00 We arent alarm type of people.. we dont quickly jump to taking our kids to the Doctor... unless something really worries us.Taite had a fever for two days. Started at 103.5. Next day 99... and then the following day he was normal as far as his temp.He hasnt shown any interest in food though.. and even drinking seems hard for himI got home today from my trip.. he has a sore on the tip of his tongue. It reminds me of what I get if I bite my lip..He is drooling majorly..We think he is getting either his 2 yr molars or the fang teeth. Its hard to tell because he wont let us look.He keeps his mouth with his lower lip in... so he doesnt talk much right now.. because it seems to hurt.Then tonight while giving him a bath I notice a weird bumpy diaper rash. Like lumpy looking in spots.Can someone help me out because I cant find any information online!!
Well.. it wasnt like I planned, but...
2008-05-31 22:21:00 I dont have the time or the energy to write about the trip..Lets just say it wasnt like I planned.... BUT I think it was a good learning experience... and I feel that Christ used this time (as hard as it may of been) to grow me.So in the end it was worth it for that.Oh and I got these cute pics w/ Caleb ;-)The wedding photographer was really sweet. She had a Rebel XTi canon camera... and we enjoyed chatting some. She took a bunch of pics with her camera... then snapped these with mine (I hope to get a copy of the ones she took as well.. since she got a few more)I'll blog when I have energy...Did I mention my cars AC broke as soon as I got there? I had to drive 4 hours back home without AC... and it was in the 80's...
Aldi's Love
2008-05-30 19:44:00 I like to go to a store called Aldi's whenever possible. Its located about 35 minutes away... so to go that far with gas as high as it is.. means I have to stock up.I had a few items to get and figured Id buy a few easy meal products for Travis while I was out of town. (he doesnt cook..)Oh and Aldi's now carries USDA Organic Milk! $2.99 a half gallon. Most stores charge $3.50 for a half gallon of organic milk.They also sold the OJ I like.. not from concentrate.Also a nice whole grain bread w/our high fructose corn syrup.They have the best chicken noodle soups!I even grabbed some yummy cinnamon raisin bagels.Total amount spend was just over $60.00! I had an entire cart full...Got to love Aldi :-)*click image for a list of items purchased* More About: Love
Wrapping it up for this week
2008-05-30 02:54:00 Tomorrow after an early lunch I will be on my way to my cousin Carole's wedding.This is a very exciting trip for me. My cousins and I were inseparable from birth until about age 8? and then due to family issues we didnt see each other again for many many years. Actually I have yet to see my cousin Kelly (the youngest of the 3) in about 10 years? give or take.I reconnected with Carole last year through myspace.. and even got to hang out with her last year some.I cant get into all the details.. but I will say this..Satan is proud that he has ripped this family apart... but you better believe I wont let him keep doing it! I have no reservation of atleast trying to rekindle our families relationship.. even though I had nothing to do with what caused things... after all at the time I was only a child.On the trip I will take Caleb.I thought this way Travis could still get some work done. Taite still naps twice a day.. so thats like 3 hours of study time on both friday and saturday for Tr... More About: Week
Burger Bug
2008-05-29 14:12:00 Taite woke up this morning upset... crying.. and shaky.He felt very warm. This is Taites 1st real fever.To my knowledge he has never had a fever...Poor thing does not like the feeling!Im puzzled as to what cause may be. He doesnt have a runny nose... no cough... no runny eyes... no throwing up. Nothing. Maybe its just teething? He has all his teeth except for the vampire fangs ;-) and I hear those are one of the worst to get in.He hasnt been to the Chiropractor in over a month... I should take him to help out. With adjustments it fixes the alignment of the spine and can allow the immune system, nervous system and everything work better. To bad the office is closed today!!I hope he gets better quickly... Im suppose to leave friday morning for my cousins wedding (3 hrs away). Im taking Caleb... and leaving my lil' Burger alone w/ Daddy. I would hate for him to be miserable the entire time im gone.Off to go on a bike ride w/ both boys. I think the fresh air will do him good.Oh... and ... More About: Taite
Stool Find and Gas in NC
2008-05-29 01:22:00 The other day I was at Target w/ my mom and was browsing the DOLLAR section they now have. I have been in the market for some new stools for my boys. We have one tiny stool I got back in Ohio for Caleb. Its a tiny lightening McQueen stool that he used at the sink and such... its really small though. The boys were forever fighting over the stool.. placing it all over the house... misplacing it..I really wanted TWO stools.One for each boy. It seems that just works well :-)They have two beds.Two sippy cups...Two tooth brushes..Two BlankiesTwo pillows...Why not TWO stools.I saw these adorable solid color rectangle stools at Target for $2.50 each!You cant beat that!! I loved the colors. They go perfectly with my boys rooms and the theme I have going on. They even have lil' slide proof things under the legs...*Caleb was tilting his*My way of organizing the boys items are with colors.I try to give Taite all the BLUE things... the reason I decided on blue for Taite was because he has blue ... More About: Find , Stool
Semi Wordless Wednesday - Impact!!!
2008-05-28 12:00:00 *I had to add that my Caleb up until recently hated water on his face... ears...etc... in the bath tub its hard to even wash his hair... he almost always cries... or gets scared. Once he got into his pool though he became a different child. He absolutely LOVED it when his Daddy took huge buckets of water and dumped them on him. I mean was laughing so hard and asking for more. Toddlers make no sense!* More About: Semi , Wednesday
Babywearing Stash
2008-05-27 19:59:00 *Picture Heavy POST!*Steph over at Adventures in Babywearing asked any of us bloggers if we wanted to join in... to showcase our babywearing stash!I was introduced to babywearing when my 1st son Caleb was almost a year old. I saw my friend Lis in an airport back in Charlotte, NC with a Zolowear Ring Sling.. and because of her I have been in love ever since :-)I didnt do any babywearing (w/ the acception of trying a snugli when Caleb was a newborn - hated it.. so uncomfortable! - for me any way).When my son Taite was born I really got into it.. and regret not wearing Caleb.Babywearing is such a wonderful bonding experience between mom and baby... it really just gives you that extra special time close to the baby. Babies grow SO FAST... I think we should cherish the time they are small enough to be held so closely.My babywearing started with Lis' zolowear sling!She loaned it to me and I loved it! After wearing it for a good while though I realized I needed more support for longer wea...
Why should He bless when we aren't content
2008-05-27 14:57:00 Lately I have really been struggling with being content.As many of you know we live in a parsonage. If you don't know what one is, its basically a home the church provides. Since my husband is the senior Pastor we get to live in the parsonage. Its a home owned by the church that they give to their current Pastors while they serve.The Pastor doesn't have to live in the parsonage if they don't want... but most do since it saves a lot of money... and its very close to the church.. saving on gas and making it very convenient.The parsonage we live in is a 1960 something home. Its brick. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Has a sitting room (aka our tv room), living room, dining room and the worlds smallest kitchen.This is where I am struggling.I love to be able to provide yummy meals for my family.. but due to the size of this kitchen I am so annoyed and frustrated to fix a meal.I have about 2 foot of space to work with... and with two kids clung to your leg... no counter space, a stove that has a lo... More About: Content
If I wasnt allergic and had money :-)
2008-05-27 00:39:00 If I wasnt allergic and had money to spend on vet bills, food, etc..etc...I would love to have one of these...These are 3 week old Springer/lab pups. They belong to our friend Kenneth. They were just precious!Taite and Caleb both were so sweet handling them..But we will never have a dog.. and if we do he or she would be outside :-)Im off to play outside. Its beautiful out. I just got back from the store. My keyboard broke.. my fault. The key was sticking and I tried to fix it.. and broke it. It was the space bar key 2... cant exactly live without that ;-)Im glad I got a new one though because this one is really quiet!!!and has a better design for those who type a lot. More About: Money
She brought new meaning to memorial day for me.
2008-05-26 04:54:00 My friend Lis is very dear to my heart. Although we are 1000's of miles apart I consider her a dear friend and sister in Christ.She is a constant encouragement to me... and I look up to her a lot.Because of her I feel I have learned a lot... and really grown a lot.Lis has really brought new meaning to memorial day for me.In case you didnt know Lis lost her husband Joe shortly after the birth of her daughter Providence...I encourage you to read THIS POST she wrote today...and incase you don't have time...Heres a snippet off her post that I wanted to share..."With Memorial Day tomorrow I just want to encourage if I can, for you to honor those that have given their lives, my husband among them. Honor these men, their lives and sacrifice. A great way to do this daily is to live your life to the fullest. Pour love into your family without expecting anything back, give to them your life completely and totally. Rejoice in the Lord, do not become bitter. Play with your children, enjoy the... More About: Meaning
Weekly Winners - May 19-23
2008-05-25 21:45:00 His GirlYes... we are Pastors WIVESAir TimeMy peeling FriendStill DampMore Weekly Winneres HERE More About: Winners
We take re-use to a new level
2008-05-24 03:34:00 Many of us these days are trying to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.I have found it to be a lot of fun... maybe a bit more expensive AT TIMES... but well worth it.Some of the ways we have gone more eco are...1. Cloth diapers!2. Using those special light bulbs. Im sorry I cant think of the name.. but you all know what im talking about... :-)3. Turning off lights when we leave the room.4. Not letting the TV run when we arent around5. Using reusable bags6. When we dont use reusable and bring home plastic bags... using those plastic bags as trash can bags in the kitchen and bathrooms7. Drinking organic milk (regular milk has been linked to cancer and many other health problems. I believe by spending a few more dollars we are giving our children a wonderful gift.. since our kids are the ones that drink most of the milk)8. Cutting our artificial flavored foods9. Eating organic milk when possible (its hard to get in our town)10. Eating organic fruits/veggies when possible11. I use an al...
The Quiet
2008-05-23 15:38:00 The past 5 days or so I have been doing what we call "quiet time" in our home.Because Caleb just refuses to sleep past 6:30am (even with sleeping in a quiet room without his giggly brother)... we find that this quiet time is not only good for us (heh...) but its really great for him.Taite still naps some mornings. It just depends on what time he gets to bed the night before... and wakes up. This morning he needed a nap and is fast asleep... due to the late party night we had (us wild pastors and wives - im totally joking.. or am I?! I am)During Taites nap (or his quiet time in the bed w/ books); I put Caleb into the guestroom (where he has been sleeping during naps/bedtime) and tell him its quiet time. I explain to him each time that this means he can read books... draw... play with his stuff toy in bed... etc... But he is NOT to leave the room or get loud. Our guestroom also doubles as our school room.. so it has lots of books in it for him.. as well as things to draw with. It has ... More About: Quiet
Our night went as ...
More articles from this author:2008-05-23 05:02:00 Pool time...Dinner TimeWatching a Lizard Peel... :-)Play TimeGroup Photo TimePeople in photograph...Anna, Christopher, Kelly (the mom) and Lydia.Caleb, myself, TaiteAngela and EdenAll 3 of us moms Pastors wives ;-) More About: Night 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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