Finding a New Church Home

Throughout my life I have only regularly attended 2 churches.  Since Nate was born, I basically didn't put church as a priority.  I've never been to a church as an adult that fulfilled my needs.  As a teen I got my spiritual fulfillment from going to national, state, and local events, not necessarily from Sunday worship.  Now at this point in my life I need that Sunday worship.  I stopped going to church because there wasn't a place for Nate. 

After moving it's been a priority for me to find a church where I fit in and where Nate fits in.  The added bonus would be that the rest of my family likes it too.  At this point in time we have found it.  It's United Methodist, there is a preschool Sunday school class while simultaneously there is a contemporary worship service.  It's been a trial to get Nate to stay in Sunday School.  I'm an attached parent and I won't just leave him to be upset because of the separation.  I told his teachers to get me if he got upset.  The first Sunday he lasted about 15 minutes before they had to get me and I stayed with him the rest of the time.  The second Sunday Mema stayed with him the first 30 minutes and then he stayed by himself the second 30. 

Miraculously enough today he stayed in Sunday school the whole time!  I guess third times a charm.  The teacher told me that he just wanted to sit and watch for the first part, but that he got into it when they played games and did a craft.  He looooves crafts.  I'm just happy that he didn't cry and that they didn't feel the need to come get me.  I hope in time that he will get really comfortable and just walk in on his own and be all smiles when I come to get him.  But for now I'm happy with baby steps.  Because his staying in Sunday school means that I get to go to church and work on my relationship with God.

How do your cosmetics rate?

About a year ago, or maybe more, I was introduced to the Cosmetic Database .  It rates cosmetics, toiletries, and health products based on what is in them.  I often look up the products I buy to see what they rate.  My goal at the moment is to only use products that rate 0-4.  Even a 4 is a moderate hazard.  I use a lot of products like Burts Bees, which you would think would be a "healthy" product, but they can rate higher than a 4.  Sometimes something like a baby shampoo being tear free can make it rate higher.  The one brand that is no fail for me is California Baby.  I've started using that for Nate and even for myself.  California Baby has a good smelling bug spray.  While it may not be as super effective as a deet filled spray, it also doesn't make me feel like I can't breathe.  I challenge you to go to the database and look up what you use.  You might be surprised and might feel yourself looking at other brands.

Pumpkin Picking

This year we actually got to go out into a field and pick pumpkins.  The Westmoreland Berry Farm has a big patch that we visited.  Usually we end up buying pumpkins at the grocery store or at a nursery only.  Nate was so cute.  He really wanted a green pumpkin.  We found one and then placed it for him to find.  He loved following Popper around to find the perfect pumpkin.

S'mores

One awesome thing about CB is that you can have a fire going in your yard.  We have a little metal container to make a campfire in and usually we only busted it out around the 4th of July.  Now 90 degrees, humidity, and mosquitos never made for super pleasant campfires.  However, we would still do it because of the smores and the company.  Now that we are living here and dad is coming down often, we actually had the chance to light a fire when it's cool outside! 

We've had to light a lot of citronella candles this summer and it's given me the opportunity to talk to Nate about fire and staying away from it.  The campfire lended more opportunity for that.  He was actually really well behaved around it for a 3 year old.  All he wanted to do was eat the chocolate and roast marshmallows.  I'm pretty sure he snuck a lot of chocolate when I wasn't looking :).

Goodbye Milk, Hello Chicken

I suspected for a very long time that I am Lactose Intolerant.  It was finally confirmed after going for a physical in early September.  So my options were to continue to eat dairy products and be sick daily or to give up dairy products and basically live as a vegan who eats fish.  I tried the vegan thing for a week and I felt great in regards to my stomach, but I was so tired and sluggish.  I would fall asleep in a chair while watching a show with Nate in the middle of the day (more than normal). 

So the next choice I had to make was to continue on an almost vegan diet or re-introduce meat into my diet.  I decided to go with the second.  After 10 years as a lacto-ovo-pesco vegetarian I am eating chicken and turkey.  At this point in time I have no interest in eating red meat.  I'm finally feeling really good!  I spent 25 years with stomach aches and for some reason when I would go to a doctor no one asked me about milk.  Giving it up really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  I'm using lactose free milk and the only thing I really miss is dip.  I love dips in all form and now I just have to go with salsa.

Dinner is a lot more exciting now.  And I've realized somethings aren't as tasty as I imagined them to be after 10 years like McDonalds chicken nuggets and Campbells chicken noodle soup.  But real chicken made at home is a good and tasty option especially since I'm trying to live a healthier life.  So even though I'm no longer a vegetarian, I am still making the right choices for my health.

Prize

I'm the type of person that always passes up entering drawings because I never win.  Well I was surprised when I got a phone call on Monday saying that I had won a prize from the Montross Fair.  I had actually for once filled out a slip of paper and it paid off.  Before you get to excited that I won something super amazing, here it is...

School Supplies!

The real plus side is that it is stuff I can use or I can donate to the elementary school.  Or possibly pack in some kind of charitable Christmas present (I'm really working on getting Nate involved in donating to different causes each month).  Nate is very excited about the markers and those along with twistable crayons, colored pencils, and paper will come in handy with our new school time I'm implementing at home.  I am looking forward to using the pens in a craft project and I can always use highlighters and post its.

Montross Fall Fair

One perk of small town life is that there are small town activities like fall fairs.  We went to our first one this weekend in the next town over.  I love how there was no parking organization and even though there are many police officers no one helps people cross the street.  There was an awesome kids area that was all free.  Nate got to decorate a pumpkin, play games, go inside a school bus, and bounce in a bounce house.  I love how there was a whole food area filled with vendors offering nothing fancy, fried chicken, burgers, fried fish, kettle corn.  And for prices that you can actually afford.  The parade was interesting.  It was filled with fire engines, local business floats, and homecoming princesses.  I still don't feel like I really belong, but I might be getting there.

Virginia State Fair

Admittedly I had never been to a state fair.  So I was rather excited to go.  I was also really excited to take Nate, because he's finally at that age where he really enjoys activities and can go all day.  He's not my baby anymore.  The fair did not disappoint.  It was filled with food stands, questionable rides and ride attendants, overpriced games, lots of agricultural exhibits, and people from all walks of life. 

I didn't know if Nate would be up for the rides, but that was probably his favorite part.  Before Nate was even 2 we went to visit Sesame Place.  I immediately took him on the Merry-Go-Round and traumatized him.  He had refused to go on one since.  But I managed to get him on one at the fair.  Unfortunately I did not anticipate that he would not hold on tightly.  I was on the horse next to him and while I was holding on to his sweatshirt, he still slowly started to slide off of the horse.  The incompetent ride attendant wasn't even watching the ride, and my mom's friend had to go get her to stop the ride, so that I could secure Nate.  Luckily, he has no fear and thinks that Merry-go-rounds are fun now.

Last Visit to the River

We are still getting some random days of warm weather, so last week we decided to take advantage of that.  The beach area is still a mess with lots of debri, but to a little boy that just means lots of decorations for his sand castle.  We got Mema to go with us and spent a little time just digging in the sand and running away from the waves.  The water is really cold now!

Apple Picking

I look forward to September all summer long.  September means the start of fall and fall is my favorite time of year.  Last year we started a new tradition of apple picking.  Nate absolutely loves it.  Apple picking represents all of his favorite things; spending time with family, running free, grabbing things off of trees, treats, wagon rides, and being outside.  Taking the apples home is just the bonus.  I think this is going to be a tradition for years to come.