tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60096104810075447272024-03-05T17:38:39.772-06:00Matt and Jodi Beth~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-92084981589741360452010-08-04T01:14:00.001-05:002010-08-04T01:17:11.323-05:00Aubrey's Room<div style="text-align: center;">When Aubrey is older...<br /><br /><center><iframe src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/browse.sets?.mid=embed-car-1776618&_out=embed&display=car&displayOptions=%7B%22withBy%22%3A0%7D&size=l&uid=1776618" style="display: block;" frameborder="no" height="320" scrolling="no" width="354"></iframe><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.mid=embed-find-1776618&id=1776618">Find me on Polyvore</a></small></center><br /></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-56383816515914755252010-08-04T00:28:00.007-05:002010-08-04T01:18:45.118-05:00Wishy Washy<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">If I could redo my bedroom I might do it something like this.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/browse.sets?.mid=embed-gridv-1776618&_out=embed&display=gridv&displayOptions=%7B%22withBy%22%3A0%7D&size=m&uid=1776618" style="display: block;" frameborder="no" height="324" scrolling="no" width="162"></iframe><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?.mid=embed-find-1776618&id=1776618" style="position: relative; left: 94px; top: -26px; border: 0pt none;"><img title="Find me on Polyvore" alt="Find me on Polyvore" src="http://www.polyvorecdn.com/rsrc/img/logo_embed_alt_63x21.png" style="border: 0pt none;" /></a></div><br /></span></div></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-64209891646864517792010-05-20T10:35:00.001-05:002010-05-20T10:37:23.501-05:00My Mom is Cool!My parents' bathroom was featured on the <a href="http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/">Junk Market Style blog</a>. Pretty neat. Go check it out! The post is titled "CanYou HEAR Me Now?"~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-50708755625032684512010-04-26T23:19:00.004-05:002010-04-27T20:37:56.788-05:00Haiti Diaper Sewing Day!The last sewing day was such a success, it is time for another. <a href="http://heretohaiti.tumblr.com/">This blog</a> has been documenting the supplies that have been collected for <a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">Real Hope for Haiti</a>. Their latest post is about how there is a big need for diapers in Haiti. So I've been looking at cloth diaper patterns online and come up with one I think will be good to use. <a href="http://www.ottobredesign.com/en/print/pdf/vaippa_en.pdf">Here it is</a>. It has been made smaller by a reader of the RHFH blog.<br /><br />If you want to start collecting some of the items below that would be terrific!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">T-shirts<br />Flannel sheets/shirts/fabric<br />Terry cloth towels/wash clothes/hand towels<br />bathing suit elastic<br />twill tape<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No date set yet but I will keep you informed.<br /></div></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-67169395864367387812010-04-22T23:22:00.005-05:002010-04-23T22:37:05.320-05:00Current Reading ListNear the top of the page I have added a "What I'm Reading" tab. I just wanted to keep track of what I have read and perhaps others will find it interesting.<br /><br />I also added a Recipe tab, although it is currently empty.~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-90654527253597143442010-04-08T23:26:00.006-05:002010-04-08T23:39:20.951-05:00Aubrey is 6 Months Old!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOtnEd04QpNK-m9uIO_iF4jbAQL37rErPjpE5IQ4R4rgXn-VMvI1ahq7V0Qx7H768g20Y3xGItKsLf-I6Vf_ps7-B8E7QwYvy9FHHP2SiBVwziQUeEgjvaCWLXS8umSTfAL7t95C_Tjk/s1600/aubreyblueeyes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOtnEd04QpNK-m9uIO_iF4jbAQL37rErPjpE5IQ4R4rgXn-VMvI1ahq7V0Qx7H768g20Y3xGItKsLf-I6Vf_ps7-B8E7QwYvy9FHHP2SiBVwziQUeEgjvaCWLXS8umSTfAL7t95C_Tjk/s400/aubreyblueeyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457990126099360450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFKXBTO-G8dwsiaRTWfQbpRwdgiO46HbA-IwbTQzrwSdAksvyAP-bqGYkNwQ3TUz0pSOEhXrTif7ofSqNUyCnVd7jKUNQLryF0_pRuuJhfaso7iPl9cQLu6yGqVt3etrGYWEaiOAgQAs/s1600/Aubreyandkatelynn.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFKXBTO-G8dwsiaRTWfQbpRwdgiO46HbA-IwbTQzrwSdAksvyAP-bqGYkNwQ3TUz0pSOEhXrTif7ofSqNUyCnVd7jKUNQLryF0_pRuuJhfaso7iPl9cQLu6yGqVt3etrGYWEaiOAgQAs/s400/Aubreyandkatelynn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457990114856398098" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq5j8KGEOgNKT2DpGJPGNMvTsVzD-wXh3pWMFEqxmqca06jQYE77sB76O1EjIE5905nO1veszRWtAuaFMgEcGMYC9WTmeOBEMAbEys3S_LSGgsfXOU9RvTz1xGrJ50nM8WDkn1rETpUc/s1600/Aubrey.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcq5j8KGEOgNKT2DpGJPGNMvTsVzD-wXh3pWMFEqxmqca06jQYE77sB76O1EjIE5905nO1veszRWtAuaFMgEcGMYC9WTmeOBEMAbEys3S_LSGgsfXOU9RvTz1xGrJ50nM8WDkn1rETpUc/s400/Aubrey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457992519284165170" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4wlgqD2oJcy3zGWcKughjEBvMqJjuqa93KSMWntbyDxLvSRk5miecE0R8lYr8OjrtoXQeTJI7yXCBWKMwIvl74BdbMJwe40N41bLuvHGFA1dhIZWu9QNAEdWh1KNk5QrkHgJXy9uNY0/s1600/Aubreyandgma.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4wlgqD2oJcy3zGWcKughjEBvMqJjuqa93KSMWntbyDxLvSRk5miecE0R8lYr8OjrtoXQeTJI7yXCBWKMwIvl74BdbMJwe40N41bLuvHGFA1dhIZWu9QNAEdWh1KNk5QrkHgJXy9uNY0/s400/Aubreyandgma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457990102882549762" border="0" /></a>She loves for her Grandma to hold her this way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQOWufRoJBGVeGh6S7hLT0AFSMd-QwMaalL4lFTTLF6RRWyFwj8ZFwevzrgtC30JCGFA2xL3AWyvIzQ0ezqb6oODnJ4tdrNIRLTPYs_qn5q6sj1aWJGg8X9bcRB3Cglfh30jnkaavC14/s1600/Aubreyswinging.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQOWufRoJBGVeGh6S7hLT0AFSMd-QwMaalL4lFTTLF6RRWyFwj8ZFwevzrgtC30JCGFA2xL3AWyvIzQ0ezqb6oODnJ4tdrNIRLTPYs_qn5q6sj1aWJGg8X9bcRB3Cglfh30jnkaavC14/s400/Aubreyswinging.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457991613143203122" border="0" /></a>She definitely looks like her Daddy but everyone says she<br />has my attitude, I think this is evidence.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJh92GWZFxaH1VfhR6RS3rRZNQruoZYMqqks2T_CfaT8-vh7nPN796wdZmrIhyUjdbpjkOrmjMgKlv6sZu_Y79Zx8Fh_s8x1rBxrRZHjmAiY6LWLvnkmzsgk-x2cLf1Zh_-kVi5V4vqic/s1600/aubrey+close+up.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJh92GWZFxaH1VfhR6RS3rRZNQruoZYMqqks2T_CfaT8-vh7nPN796wdZmrIhyUjdbpjkOrmjMgKlv6sZu_Y79Zx8Fh_s8x1rBxrRZHjmAiY6LWLvnkmzsgk-x2cLf1Zh_-kVi5V4vqic/s400/aubrey+close+up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457990089241747058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> She is so wonderful, I'm blessed to<br />have a daughter with such a great temperament.<br /></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-33699279299985470172010-03-15T22:59:00.011-05:002010-03-18T12:45:16.527-05:00Successful Sewing<div style="text-align: center;">The sewing day on Saturday was spectacular. We made 43 dresses! When I first began planning this I was hoping for 10, then when it was put in the church bulletin and on the screen before church I thought maybe 20. God is good. I pray that the beautiful girls at the Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Center enjoy the dresses and that the sizes are needed. We made sizes 2, 4, and 6. Some ladies could not stay Saturday so they came and got a pattern to make dresses at home. The dress count is now 52 and I believe more are being made. Thank you to everyone who came and donated time and materials. We couldn't have accomplished <span style="font-style: italic;">sew</span> much without all the seamstresses, cutters, turners, iron-ers and caterer.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wonderful Seamstresses<br />At one point we had 6 machines going.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSb62TzC0EXWfh_HwmXFVfZ6IaAZy-pKgY7JxFK0SjlOG5ejZSLvPV4mkPk6vQpBA_kpKS-zgUZu2kDuWgrvBeQQWw_Rf4e1WNRhR1uKLvFFGcZLkd5BqIWKznzX6ZhQ8lVgA_mMVQX8/s1600-h/DSCN1230.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSb62TzC0EXWfh_HwmXFVfZ6IaAZy-pKgY7JxFK0SjlOG5ejZSLvPV4mkPk6vQpBA_kpKS-zgUZu2kDuWgrvBeQQWw_Rf4e1WNRhR1uKLvFFGcZLkd5BqIWKznzX6ZhQ8lVgA_mMVQX8/s400/DSCN1230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449083181323396578" border="0" /></a>Ellis Ladies<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJAoGPighFW_XOKs1xtVPxauTXgZeXyQRW39E-tSb41bYSxbyop1aPqSUzQRheZ3HJbuFTt9CuI_IVPYRuoYI3Wz8i8joOmSVKYcx5zPwhmN2jSJeWUjRbr9MAGbC09voJ4645NYBa1U/s1600-h/DSCN1229.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJAoGPighFW_XOKs1xtVPxauTXgZeXyQRW39E-tSb41bYSxbyop1aPqSUzQRheZ3HJbuFTt9CuI_IVPYRuoYI3Wz8i8joOmSVKYcx5zPwhmN2jSJeWUjRbr9MAGbC09voJ4645NYBa1U/s400/DSCN1229.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449088254573140914" border="0" /></a>Aubrey did really well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHpVfwqHDV3rqpLaTf96hD3fH07C6R9Vc4vpd_KVay_hFfVKi9R7ULWqi_D8-tzObbuYkuQXrvTwDDJtzQZLdGIMjeeqgmOD-0j5BFCbNSS9SMBnyFceVRm0qJcpoB-R11lFGQYbeKAQ/s1600-h/DSCN1224.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHpVfwqHDV3rqpLaTf96hD3fH07C6R9Vc4vpd_KVay_hFfVKi9R7ULWqi_D8-tzObbuYkuQXrvTwDDJtzQZLdGIMjeeqgmOD-0j5BFCbNSS9SMBnyFceVRm0qJcpoB-R11lFGQYbeKAQ/s400/DSCN1224.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449086547376450226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4Ojhx5ItuE2M0jtrMYudhOfzCGHkFmm4ghn5w-c-SDd30__R-tlnh3cerAqFCYBPNjFGdQ5QN1SqJ5oRmHN9Kc1boO20XkYk0-2l0QREteaOAcVOiaB0aJdMZN0QTKa_jfODD3kV3BU/s1600-h/DSCN1215.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4Ojhx5ItuE2M0jtrMYudhOfzCGHkFmm4ghn5w-c-SDd30__R-tlnh3cerAqFCYBPNjFGdQ5QN1SqJ5oRmHN9Kc1boO20XkYk0-2l0QREteaOAcVOiaB0aJdMZN0QTKa_jfODD3kV3BU/s400/DSCN1215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449086543772585954" border="0" /></a></div>Thank you mom for the great food!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyqLNXK-YYlt94eeqJ0RkU8r7s3ihnXth9TR4Hx4Ez9fCsafoT-aMzu16s84jm_-ESmVbPr5WpkWuolNyVsGffr5QIfcanZaJk472EtETMsUj4nuBhd8RyPMrXTLwRvZYA_kSNynFIDg/s1600-h/DSCN1211.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyqLNXK-YYlt94eeqJ0RkU8r7s3ihnXth9TR4Hx4Ez9fCsafoT-aMzu16s84jm_-ESmVbPr5WpkWuolNyVsGffr5QIfcanZaJk472EtETMsUj4nuBhd8RyPMrXTLwRvZYA_kSNynFIDg/s400/DSCN1211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449086536832188722" border="0" /></a>Finished Dresses<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwZXmZMk1wRP4xU0TF-6DN2wwOO1lx-UlzCN2PUDkkkrjxVmrZ8UD1Uw22EfjKGXiAvztKvIZPxhUiOEhHm-672QgwmG3G3EkZiogIz-hxznKiK_bANsvLTtmSm2eWt1u7n8DOAqhD8c/s1600-h/DSCN1235.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwZXmZMk1wRP4xU0TF-6DN2wwOO1lx-UlzCN2PUDkkkrjxVmrZ8UD1Uw22EfjKGXiAvztKvIZPxhUiOEhHm-672QgwmG3G3EkZiogIz-hxznKiK_bANsvLTtmSm2eWt1u7n8DOAqhD8c/s400/DSCN1235.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449083209154564290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQopBmv8LmQgKvOB9xETJPBXFDwzCVIM-MoCblcPE-U66tI-lz-IgwgsVaQ1T3YUSNMpM06SPeYzgwbNi_Vsi8igV3GDYQ49dLEprrkrEQWz1QZAwW6UOqSAmu14jk8uH_sLLJ7Cnhm4/s1600-h/DSCN1234.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQopBmv8LmQgKvOB9xETJPBXFDwzCVIM-MoCblcPE-U66tI-lz-IgwgsVaQ1T3YUSNMpM06SPeYzgwbNi_Vsi8igV3GDYQ49dLEprrkrEQWz1QZAwW6UOqSAmu14jk8uH_sLLJ7Cnhm4/s400/DSCN1234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449083198876990082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLeMxXpk8gS9sIhn8W8vEdBwBQSDE6fmQmD0MWZE8ZSdA8bHePII-bIeXrQuo76AmItJju9Tj5sbnbiUpXkBJrt8tggG6UQ4raq4ahvMFTcnYm16IK6T7CB0jbcEzUiOtCXdLydklKyQ/s1600-h/jodi+bw.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLeMxXpk8gS9sIhn8W8vEdBwBQSDE6fmQmD0MWZE8ZSdA8bHePII-bIeXrQuo76AmItJju9Tj5sbnbiUpXkBJrt8tggG6UQ4raq4ahvMFTcnYm16IK6T7CB0jbcEzUiOtCXdLydklKyQ/s400/jodi+bw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449080456405819490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Special thank you to <a href="www.theneedleniche.com">The Needle Niche</a> in Athens, TX for the lovely fabric!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9ot4RZrQtJVLqq7qWZdpDc_FWJlnm3LQL7XskC09u4YDH3yL3w53otSVkafaQptocLoNKvvx8uzyQtKWPbQp8tXNQP6GGRLtWHtHkYMJ_sFCvDX2GCgkBlUvuQ_AEyhSJYMIpPR0VT8/s1600-h/DSCN1207.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9ot4RZrQtJVLqq7qWZdpDc_FWJlnm3LQL7XskC09u4YDH3yL3w53otSVkafaQptocLoNKvvx8uzyQtKWPbQp8tXNQP6GGRLtWHtHkYMJ_sFCvDX2GCgkBlUvuQ_AEyhSJYMIpPR0VT8/s400/DSCN1207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449086527243232546" border="0" /></a><br /></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-33544399517666860572010-03-04T23:04:00.003-06:002010-03-04T23:28:55.802-06:00He Answers Prayer!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">There is no doubt, God answers prayer!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For the last few years I have been trying to avoid God, and doing a rather good job. But God has not forgotten me. In the last few months it has really hit me that I was missing him. My life has been great but it has become clear that my life would never be what I wanted it to be unless I came back into God's embrace. So, I have been praying that God would find a way to bring me back to him. He has.<br /><br />When Philip and Kim went to Haiti (prior to earthquake) and came back telling about their trip it really hit my heart. At the time I was praying for God to reach out to me. I began praying about what I could. Then the earthquake hit and I followed news and blogs closely. I thought <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(God put on my heart)</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">"I bet that there would be a need for cloth diapers and pillowcase dresses would be nice for the climate."</span> But Satan gave me doubts: sending these items could hurt the local economy; I don't have the time; what are you thinking, you can't really sew. So I put the thought aside.<br /><br />Then one day when checking the <a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">rescue center's blog</a>, I saw a <a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/sewing-projects/">post </a>asking those who can sew to send diapers, pillowcase dresses and aprons. God had to make it very obvious to me that he wanted me to do this, I didn't take his early suggestion seriously. So March 13th sewing day!<br /><br />I've been praying that everything would come into place to make it a successful day. I fully believe it will. God has answered another prayer. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.theneedleniche.com">The Needle Niche</a>, a fabric shop in Athens, has donated 20 beautiful cuts of fabric for the dresses!<br /><br />In essence, this song has been my prayer for the last few months. So thankful, God answers prayer!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Listen to it <a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684646421102844">HERE</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">Draw me close to You<br />Never let me go<br />I lay it all down again<br />To hear You say that I'm Your friend<br /><br />You are my desire<br />No one else will do<br />'Cause nothing else could take Your place<br />To feel the warmth of Your embrace<br />Help me find the way<br />Bring me back to You<br /><br />You're all I want<br />You're all I've ever needed<br />You're all I want<br />Help me know You are near <!--Lyrics End--><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684646421102844"></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /></div></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-71065586285753852222010-02-24T19:13:00.003-06:002010-02-24T19:53:34.450-06:00Sewing Day<div style="text-align: center;">Sewing Day<br />March 13th @ FBC in Mabank<br />9 AM - ???<br /><br />On March 13th we will be sewing up a storm. <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=pillowcase+dresses&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g6g-m3&aql=&oq=">Simple sleeveless dresses</a> is our project. They will be sent to Minnesota and then on to Haiti. They will go to the <a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Center</a> for malnourished children.<br /><br />If you are interested in helping, join us! No need to have sewing experience. We will need people to help cut out the dresses, iron and turn the ties right-side out. If you are interested in learning to sew this will be a good chance for your to watch and learn some basic techniques. I also will have a cute little girl there that may need some looking after.<br /><br />If you won't be able to make it, there are other ways you can help.<br />You can send fabric or thread<br />Lend a sewing machine, serger, iron or ironing board<br />Provide snacks<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Items needed:<br />fabric<br />thread<br />scissors<br />rulers/gauges<br />pins<br />cutting board<br />irons<br />ironing boards<br />sewing machines<br />sergers<br /><br />If you have any questions or want to let me know what you can contribute email me (jodstercheek@hotmail.com) or leave a message here<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-22372168164032035082010-02-20T12:24:00.003-06:002010-02-20T12:32:55.247-06:00I'm an Aunt!My niece is beautiful and 10 lbs. 12 ounces! Lots and lots of dark wavy hair. Pictures later.<br /><br />I set up a <a href="http://www.carecalendar.org/index.php">CareCalendar </a>for dinners for the recently expanded family. If you want to sign up for a meal you can at this website: <a href="http://www.carecalendar.org/index.php">http://www.carecalendar.org/index.php</a><br /><br />Log on ID # 33140<br />Security # 4602<br /><br />This way they can receive some yummy food but it will not be all given on the same day.<br /><br />Lots going on around the house. Mark your calendars for the <a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">RHFH </a>sewing day on March 13th. Will be making simple sleeveless dresses. More details later.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Add_Video" title="Add Video" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="addVideo();" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);;ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Add Video" class="gl_video" border="0" /></span></span>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-62590620266102674632010-02-11T19:29:00.003-06:002010-04-23T22:39:49.223-05:00Snow Day<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2I3iTpxW8JfBWzSxBLhCmyY4IWFJL0KSio-gGhfXPdW83ZJtxZJaK0hd6b6Z65Y48j6o8bavzCpvL2NASVzyoRoudJnBtoloOFAVx6Pry2b83aRLN45UW_cvw02HPswpyNVlF1DXsjU/s1600-h/snow2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2I3iTpxW8JfBWzSxBLhCmyY4IWFJL0KSio-gGhfXPdW83ZJtxZJaK0hd6b6Z65Y48j6o8bavzCpvL2NASVzyoRoudJnBtoloOFAVx6Pry2b83aRLN45UW_cvw02HPswpyNVlF1DXsjU/s400/snow2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437169073557771778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpziwLJu0X9UNpZTCAgm9J_iIsEY_3D2HqRJZwcnQc2EHpuo0358R9sqQ93-K14d4eF4e76ApBTmgZyCsbyFzA7tCEnKuwlP4KpIHMOze0TnqLa9XxbVr07G7nGIburaxdENALhPhEs9A/s1600-h/snow1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpziwLJu0X9UNpZTCAgm9J_iIsEY_3D2HqRJZwcnQc2EHpuo0358R9sqQ93-K14d4eF4e76ApBTmgZyCsbyFzA7tCEnKuwlP4KpIHMOze0TnqLa9XxbVr07G7nGIburaxdENALhPhEs9A/s400/snow1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437169065927302274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8OfQwzWh_56R-hcFFBfZ_wK5211HruAQ33ThxvG4Wr5sgYMZVJMD-_Ujl3PEG-Vrnj-X3SfJg6WnhS5vgvPr_liQ7R7hSAqVmEYmiaJGzeklGG6jdTTnPFWBXhWTszaWbVW572Gz_ho/s1600-h/daddyandaubreysnow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8OfQwzWh_56R-hcFFBfZ_wK5211HruAQ33ThxvG4Wr5sgYMZVJMD-_Ujl3PEG-Vrnj-X3SfJg6WnhS5vgvPr_liQ7R7hSAqVmEYmiaJGzeklGG6jdTTnPFWBXhWTszaWbVW572Gz_ho/s400/daddyandaubreysnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437169061664820114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZzW4PgQeJemf6xrrLRi2fFjLzHnkd_PgFOXNNxOHzLNg9IfgnvrEArGlQq_upScp-deTcR50QpXeTBf4fI2AnXd51cpofKeIDcf8YqWg6HTeBiBpWJSVBup0ovR_iyq_2F7mckKTESs/s1600-h/momandaubreysnow.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZzW4PgQeJemf6xrrLRi2fFjLzHnkd_PgFOXNNxOHzLNg9IfgnvrEArGlQq_upScp-deTcR50QpXeTBf4fI2AnXd51cpofKeIDcf8YqWg6HTeBiBpWJSVBup0ovR_iyq_2F7mckKTESs/s400/momandaubreysnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437169056298919842" border="0" /></a><br />After we played in the snow some we made 7-can soup.<br />Yum!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKjhggeBnuYJBObvcbg3nbZTOtyhRg_DKeqYrqFHKzsJGPM1Cncn6q5lJEWzh-GB2bls7r_JGwvZVbVxYABGRrV8CDvjTOeg-sFIectNFyW9OnJkJ4sEfOKliakkaDM8vlLDsHv6qy7E/s1600-h/DSCN1138.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKjhggeBnuYJBObvcbg3nbZTOtyhRg_DKeqYrqFHKzsJGPM1Cncn6q5lJEWzh-GB2bls7r_JGwvZVbVxYABGRrV8CDvjTOeg-sFIectNFyW9OnJkJ4sEfOKliakkaDM8vlLDsHv6qy7E/s400/DSCN1138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437169047668235794" border="0" /></a>7 Can Soup:<br /><br />1 lb. ground beef/turkey<br />2 cans diced tomatos<br />1 can Rotel<br />2 cans ranch style beans<br />2 cans minestrone<br /><br />Brown the meat and drain grease. Heat cans and meat together till warm.~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-1541033155096589992010-02-07T23:56:00.006-06:002010-02-08T00:41:33.135-06:00Oh Dishes!<div style="text-align: center;">I love dishes don't ya know!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few years back I picked up some dishes at Goodwill, just a few odd and end pieces, thinking that I could use them as an addition to my everyday dishes. Well over comes my FMIL (favorite mother-in-law) and says "Did David's mom give you those?" and I say "no" and she says "oh, I think she has a set of those."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.116855486.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 322px;" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.116855486.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Any time I would go to a thrift store or garage sale and see any of the pieces I would pick them up. About a year ago, Matt's Grandma gave me her collection. I was pretty excited. I've continued to gather pieces. I have had some saucers that never had cups, Grandma Ellis doesn't ever remember having cups. Well, 2 days ago I was in Goodwill and there was a basket of 4 mugs, salt and pepper shakers and a creamer that I thought would go well with my dishes but not expecting them to actually be a part of the collection. Turns out they are! Woot!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(I really love dishes and I realize this love is strange to some)</span><br /><br />Last night my mom comes over with a cake plate that<br />matches and some bowls in a new different size.<br />I never new these items existed.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com//il_430xN.116854249.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 322px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com//il_430xN.116854249.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I've been looking at Etsy and finding more things that go with the set that I would like to have. The problem is that the items are expensive compared to what I have so far spent. I probably have enough pieces for about 14 people (minus cups) and have spent less than $10, with me actually only spending around $3. Maybe my luck will continue and I will find them cheap at thrift stores.<br /><br />Some pieces I wish I had:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_430xN.119098288.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 286px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com//il_430xN.119098288.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ashtrays! How odd! I have no need for them and I wouldn't want anybody<br />to be smoking in my house but I still want them.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.117217774.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 374px;" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.117217774.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>A serving bowl<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.117054746.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 312px;" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com//il_430xN.117054746.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>An oval platter. I already have a round one.<br />I also need more coffee mugs to complete my set and a sugar bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgsugara.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 147px;" src="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgsugara.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Pie Plate<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/5/2/8/9/2/webimg/287572324_tp.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 300px;" src="http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/5/2/8/9/2/webimg/287572324_tp.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Water Pitcher<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgwatera.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgwatera.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Coffee Pot<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgcoffeepota.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgcoffeepota.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>tea cups<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgwatera.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgtcsa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 122px;" src="http://www.tias.com/stores/bigeds/thumbs/sgtcsa.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>juice glasses, tumblers, gravy boat, casserole dish, butter dish, tea pot, gravy ladles...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tias.com/218/InventoryPage/1460031/1.html">Oh, dishes!</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/5/2/8/9/2/webimg/287572324_tp.jpg"><br /></a><br />So, if you like to shop around at second hand stores and see<br />any of this pattern, send it my way! Think of it as a fun scavenger hunt. ;)<br /></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-25361143452941743182010-02-06T01:24:00.006-06:002010-02-06T01:48:45.594-06:00Wonderful day!<div style="text-align: center;">Today was pretty great.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aubrey wore a super cute outfit from her <a href="http://philipandkim.blogspot.com/">Aunt Kim and Uncle Philip</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucNm5V-hZULWsJKGz58lSMBOQyLEhnznkzKY1YP95T68uCo-ydMUL9UjVDAVxZAXS5CKMtlqJ3psx5y5j1-y6ZHjM4LwGELcbFVDpDOzpq1LhBIxY6qKTGeXnmoSumQhi_RwSMb5zBN4/s1600-h/DSCN1087.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucNm5V-hZULWsJKGz58lSMBOQyLEhnznkzKY1YP95T68uCo-ydMUL9UjVDAVxZAXS5CKMtlqJ3psx5y5j1-y6ZHjM4LwGELcbFVDpDOzpq1LhBIxY6qKTGeXnmoSumQhi_RwSMb5zBN4/s400/DSCN1087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435029908791115106" border="0" /></a><br />We joined Matt and his parents for a good lunch. We tried to take her picture in the ball pit at Matt's work but she didn't seem to enjoy it. We came home and played on the floor some. She is getting really good at grabbing for things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbw50JonELNzj1BE0sy3AJNjhiNDefGnk7GdchtJM9V9l_QC9iPQaeQ9pgoT8hev8tYa0Egc3wDj1fO2QCqCSzAJfYyrSJJ8WftqKCtrJSgVhyphenhyphenIsPrkH1IvzneuqXqQFCFNQBdlswuyM/s1600-h/DSCN1090.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbw50JonELNzj1BE0sy3AJNjhiNDefGnk7GdchtJM9V9l_QC9iPQaeQ9pgoT8hev8tYa0Egc3wDj1fO2QCqCSzAJfYyrSJJ8WftqKCtrJSgVhyphenhyphenIsPrkH1IvzneuqXqQFCFNQBdlswuyM/s400/DSCN1090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435029912882045634" border="0" /></a>We went to watch my brother's basketball game. He did really great. I've forgotten how much I enjoy watching basketball. We may have to do this more often, after all what else is there to do in a small town on a Friday night? Last year I went to a football game and also enjoyed myself so maybe our Friday nights will get more interesting. Ha! Seems silly to be thinking HS sports would be fun to watch but it really was!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cU127gdd_BAlykpJlRdXqOgjG9u6Q50v1XVebA0DSjZXFoO4WIT3ifBpPFYRjapskwxGJZefeT1SAmcaT8kQ-1FGo-d7k3VRa4Poiew2CAVgmOrjf_H-jFAsusJPJNHoPfNKsIvUgaE/s1600-h/DSCN1094.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cU127gdd_BAlykpJlRdXqOgjG9u6Q50v1XVebA0DSjZXFoO4WIT3ifBpPFYRjapskwxGJZefeT1SAmcaT8kQ-1FGo-d7k3VRa4Poiew2CAVgmOrjf_H-jFAsusJPJNHoPfNKsIvUgaE/s400/DSCN1094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435029901015282242" border="0" /></a>After the game I hung out with my wonderful Aunt Suzette, Mom, Trent and of course Aubrey. When we got home there was a package waiting for us! Woo! Presents! It had the most wonderful doll in it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.117086788.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 430px; height: 512px;" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_430xN.117086788.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I ordered her from the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartsforHaiti">HeartsforHaiti</a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.etsy.com">Etsy</a> store. It was made and donated by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/hopesartcreations">HopesArtCreations</a>. She is wonderfully made. If you come to visit, do ask to see her so you can see how great she is. I hope Aubrey adores her as she gets older, although I'm thinking I may not let her play with her. I just love the craftsmanship put into her.<br /><br />Another wonderful thing that happened tonight. I dressed Aubrey for bed, turned out her lights and turned on the mobile and went to get myself ready for bed, fully expecting to get her in a few minutes. When I went in she was asleep! Fell asleep on her own, in her crib! The ballgame must have worn her out, another reason why they may become the Friday night activity.<br /><br />Matt's good friend is coming over so I better get in bed so I can clean up some tomorrow.<br /></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-68366210131087922302010-01-29T22:33:00.003-06:002010-01-29T22:48:11.557-06:00Smiling<div style="text-align: center;">Aubrey is a smiling, laughing, talking girl these days. She likes<br />to wake us up with her talking in the morning.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtM705HRgpMu9G1ETSyXXlGU3vmE4CY38wSAFj2dMhJ01D45vTDn9umHejh9EKOZZSYE0vIpg7mf_jNER9JdyYOFjwFLF_Q5vm6TTQq-g_uLhMNcNv9R0EYnbkh3-ta5g7laOOI-0TtQ/s1600-h/DSCN1081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtM705HRgpMu9G1ETSyXXlGU3vmE4CY38wSAFj2dMhJ01D45vTDn9umHejh9EKOZZSYE0vIpg7mf_jNER9JdyYOFjwFLF_Q5vm6TTQq-g_uLhMNcNv9R0EYnbkh3-ta5g7laOOI-0TtQ/s400/DSCN1081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432388635485578226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyl9-_QtLydK8V5p0etTeW2bAg376ZFeEVoJvumeEpRVcMdmiCQpd0yL8cBPbkbxG-OHSQU9MH49Y_rzl4JHqUVqFqjlC_vDWoCD2BbxBV_IpmCfjzxxcEDW_trmHvjvxjr4XPL_uIes/s1600-h/DSCN1080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnyl9-_QtLydK8V5p0etTeW2bAg376ZFeEVoJvumeEpRVcMdmiCQpd0yL8cBPbkbxG-OHSQU9MH49Y_rzl4JHqUVqFqjlC_vDWoCD2BbxBV_IpmCfjzxxcEDW_trmHvjvxjr4XPL_uIes/s400/DSCN1080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432388625629355778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqu2znt-gGK8l5CL-fFiQAbdX6eLGMK8q5-_DmYHTh7j_XznZbzu5kiOzs6SuQ3CWwA0oPX7_Bx6Z0tKfwO-bjYYb2I2DvlgKYjn8x9CQfpuJF2SCySJa2ziMK2xBIW5ju82XNd1Up7ro/s1600-h/DSCN1079.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqu2znt-gGK8l5CL-fFiQAbdX6eLGMK8q5-_DmYHTh7j_XznZbzu5kiOzs6SuQ3CWwA0oPX7_Bx6Z0tKfwO-bjYYb2I2DvlgKYjn8x9CQfpuJF2SCySJa2ziMK2xBIW5ju82XNd1Up7ro/s400/DSCN1079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432388621438668802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxuVfhY1xKl2AvnEKgWz78P_txAhtj0UyjoeDacAsNKb6k-dFFjznVHT_EgUa-3KJZFpdvW5hQp-9u761osUsWHohccfJ5WGnzWoMAFvxdb0tKt1bAPixqTagLZeBv_mMEii4pnFuNSU/s1600-h/DSCN1078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxuVfhY1xKl2AvnEKgWz78P_txAhtj0UyjoeDacAsNKb6k-dFFjznVHT_EgUa-3KJZFpdvW5hQp-9u761osUsWHohccfJ5WGnzWoMAFvxdb0tKt1bAPixqTagLZeBv_mMEii4pnFuNSU/s400/DSCN1078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432388614236828610" border="0" /></a>Tiffany insisted she wear a bow and a jacket. She is such a good aunt/mother.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLY-qzuxGd00FD2GMcuoCtgt8Tj_43Y_XkWWO1-ieFtsc0SmtpVhukGgyKyHHEXUdHnuzbjqctl4PX9Gn6uNQgRqF-P_MBH45zzidUR96LfB15B4_e9Jk_4bXsgBRjDiSOhRYQshGYkU/s1600-h/DSCN1083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLY-qzuxGd00FD2GMcuoCtgt8Tj_43Y_XkWWO1-ieFtsc0SmtpVhukGgyKyHHEXUdHnuzbjqctl4PX9Gn6uNQgRqF-P_MBH45zzidUR96LfB15B4_e9Jk_4bXsgBRjDiSOhRYQshGYkU/s400/DSCN1083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432388639702838322" border="0" /></a>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-47281746577284868042010-01-29T22:32:00.000-06:002010-01-29T22:32:27.436-06:00My Black Apple DollA few days ago I decided I should make a doll for my cousin's 5th birthday. Her mother makes her really cute clothes so I thought I could use some of the same fabric to make the doll with, that way they match. Well, last night my sweet husband took me to the store to get my supplies and I made it last night. I was able to use leftover fabric for most of it. It only took about 3 hours and I only spent $1! I have plenty of stuff left over so I can probably make about 3 dolls for only $1. Pretty awesome I think. I think it is super cute and I am proud of myself. I have a little hand sewing to due and then I'm done. Her birthday party is on Saturday, hopefully she likes it.<br /><br />I saw how to make it on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/marthastewart.com">Martha Stewart</a> a few years ago. The pattern is by <a href="http://www.theblackapple.typepad.com/">Emily of Black Apple</a>. You can watch videos on how to make it, get the pattern and tutorials <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/article/black-apple-doll">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr0MBSaS4AbG2jDcUW_o1niB0oMYfBmnx1jWjXiwtIQun1f7220eUEipOMoLTWZY9D1uGOjlLD4R2boS2TAu5ipSmYVGKlUHGDvz0sjmbB_5yZedWpTMRbMwYGFxZpfUSuih4Uz-cQto/s1600-h/DSCN1048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPr0MBSaS4AbG2jDcUW_o1niB0oMYfBmnx1jWjXiwtIQun1f7220eUEipOMoLTWZY9D1uGOjlLD4R2boS2TAu5ipSmYVGKlUHGDvz0sjmbB_5yZedWpTMRbMwYGFxZpfUSuih4Uz-cQto/s400/DSCN1048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431117289639014690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZddcN4i8m362TH4lcL2oomQMqsjDRAvBbd9ieKhdM9UbZmEQEkX5T_jslwiDFkrv-PCRji3l9CXBtnwKinolH50rtk0YP9BBmN7iMBWoAn56-nKgJ1jjSXYPK1JvmokWBVePkf3nvgSk/s1600-h/DSCN1045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZddcN4i8m362TH4lcL2oomQMqsjDRAvBbd9ieKhdM9UbZmEQEkX5T_jslwiDFkrv-PCRji3l9CXBtnwKinolH50rtk0YP9BBmN7iMBWoAn56-nKgJ1jjSXYPK1JvmokWBVePkf3nvgSk/s400/DSCN1045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431117297490513506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2PIhCmiIDWpWqMCtwVVUu6c59J4egGBAfdCB-_U1mQ-Q-j1mBzimnWC_jaKbibvS3fKJNRo4rDi5LPuqbYrZptGfgwtxT0O-d7K6Xo5x6D2Q4nkVgokBlKrZZ0rXqzEX4WcVHSkukPU/s1600-h/DSCN1054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2PIhCmiIDWpWqMCtwVVUu6c59J4egGBAfdCB-_U1mQ-Q-j1mBzimnWC_jaKbibvS3fKJNRo4rDi5LPuqbYrZptGfgwtxT0O-d7K6Xo5x6D2Q4nkVgokBlKrZZ0rXqzEX4WcVHSkukPU/s400/DSCN1054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431117309840320722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6s25DHGm7-XIHYJhdqHGqASUEs4B11IlKx8hiKtO-mc07qkCb498eBnx32f08MsVt_mtWwsDuYbxVo2iBg00w6C7ajAndfTLM-K4ihFfNbGnZRCD7QPksceji1D1o8GsNkw2pb2AXwoA/s1600-h/DSCN1055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6s25DHGm7-XIHYJhdqHGqASUEs4B11IlKx8hiKtO-mc07qkCb498eBnx32f08MsVt_mtWwsDuYbxVo2iBg00w6C7ajAndfTLM-K4ihFfNbGnZRCD7QPksceji1D1o8GsNkw2pb2AXwoA/s400/DSCN1055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431117318108409554" border="0" /></a>I had to enlarge the pattern. Original on the right.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF11BnneQC8xKKNiSVMrAcXWVM1pJPJXTBXgvGeBJjAmxpcJlg7kkgjdG-_YV-KLGCzeJ65S1DodKzwy27Y8NkTSx7BdDXHqmcwrX9k8Rt2aK9S_Bv92hedWmPndX0PEBF5AcJSCN2bKI/s1600-h/DSCN1058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF11BnneQC8xKKNiSVMrAcXWVM1pJPJXTBXgvGeBJjAmxpcJlg7kkgjdG-_YV-KLGCzeJ65S1DodKzwy27Y8NkTSx7BdDXHqmcwrX9k8Rt2aK9S_Bv92hedWmPndX0PEBF5AcJSCN2bKI/s400/DSCN1058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431117325667042946" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The tutorial says to cut out the leg/arm pieces first then sew then together. I decided to deviate from the plan. I thought it would be hard to sew such a little piece without my hands getting in the way. Instead I folded the fabric in half and traced the piece on, then I sewed on the line...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXBuuiKH3K1urwa_YA7BZDIra2dN8HDkEhnSyUdRPW9-xLt5TcGmWq2wA3Zg6EEwL19M1s3KM_qnhDG1mnYYR5jqXLLQTVdZm3a0c6jPzn2yk4Y-qhtEsL5_YIpba33YuhiEuNyJTnaM/s1600-h/DSCN1062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXBuuiKH3K1urwa_YA7BZDIra2dN8HDkEhnSyUdRPW9-xLt5TcGmWq2wA3Zg6EEwL19M1s3KM_qnhDG1mnYYR5jqXLLQTVdZm3a0c6jPzn2yk4Y-qhtEsL5_YIpba33YuhiEuNyJTnaM/s400/DSCN1062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431121684471637922" border="0" /></a><br />After I had sewn the pieces together I trimmed the seam allowance.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EBIp9P87UxR1KmPQyghk7izbjjHhDN5lC0ZqS7GJdZ_FrChjGDPVWZsswrTT50ttMWRdX4jXvi3jEr2XgV1WP5kZI2bRjcfl9cyJYeNprAPs_0rwMcvNctef931wfRpNpx41tXHLEwc/s1600-h/DSCN1064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EBIp9P87UxR1KmPQyghk7izbjjHhDN5lC0ZqS7GJdZ_FrChjGDPVWZsswrTT50ttMWRdX4jXvi3jEr2XgV1WP5kZI2bRjcfl9cyJYeNprAPs_0rwMcvNctef931wfRpNpx41tXHLEwc/s400/DSCN1064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431121680388114306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Emily recommend using a chopstick to turn and stuff the appendages but I used a Smores roasting stick.<br /></div><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe1C2rKIzkUcRYAlL0jvQM9uyqvJashE3rx5q6rkAbm7vaYNPpg-Rk6JMQ90ITC-kWSL7qEMqI2wY6eBPQ1fUmbLT7xu5tfQ0wfDPocfnLekU8jO_TiSYGjdZEgy9qKJxaKY-Zw5vt6g/s1600-h/DSCN1069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIe1C2rKIzkUcRYAlL0jvQM9uyqvJashE3rx5q6rkAbm7vaYNPpg-Rk6JMQ90ITC-kWSL7qEMqI2wY6eBPQ1fUmbLT7xu5tfQ0wfDPocfnLekU8jO_TiSYGjdZEgy9qKJxaKY-Zw5vt6g/s400/DSCN1069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431120386764205618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ytv4otlxoFRbJ0UjDQr3FrC2M6WpiVAidgJFxlgHv900vU2F0iXbjMFVeQMxaNYd7veO0uR1iu3sK3XEhdlBq0NSdVZpk3Ftqk5HH7IzQGLnTUrHrA4YA7JmJwjpsYEWssTb6AzLSuQ/s1600-h/DSCN1070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ytv4otlxoFRbJ0UjDQr3FrC2M6WpiVAidgJFxlgHv900vU2F0iXbjMFVeQMxaNYd7veO0uR1iu3sK3XEhdlBq0NSdVZpk3Ftqk5HH7IzQGLnTUrHrA4YA7JmJwjpsYEWssTb6AzLSuQ/s400/DSCN1070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431120383447323298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJWXm93cmMaKgM4MXNAHIMVUCzlWS5aydju5lVE8D0RaVgz5dBsgE4tvW-yhgSPa4kmh5IWaKPi6LAoA1kxND-zHvhdj7JEcBbpnx_Iny3xopF6QLUn6t9_IIREuav0rVexXtpNWp7LU/s1600-h/DSCN1072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJWXm93cmMaKgM4MXNAHIMVUCzlWS5aydju5lVE8D0RaVgz5dBsgE4tvW-yhgSPa4kmh5IWaKPi6LAoA1kxND-zHvhdj7JEcBbpnx_Iny3xopF6QLUn6t9_IIREuav0rVexXtpNWp7LU/s400/DSCN1072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431120375170667602" border="0" /></a>The doll pre face, accessories and final sew up. I was nervous about painting on the face and thought about using buttons and sewing on the nose and mouth.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXPuRo3WrYP2KkSvN-HRy2SfAv-KessampyL4I792k0AhrV88uhIVos32JJEe05GC7Gr2CampyIGARJdcGhXIKN5_FnbDE2Zxw4r1N3NjZ1nuOmBphB8G8JFoSd5iMtfxB5EI9c0kuBk/s1600-h/DSCN1076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXPuRo3WrYP2KkSvN-HRy2SfAv-KessampyL4I792k0AhrV88uhIVos32JJEe05GC7Gr2CampyIGARJdcGhXIKN5_FnbDE2Zxw4r1N3NjZ1nuOmBphB8G8JFoSd5iMtfxB5EI9c0kuBk/s400/DSCN1076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431120371527275970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the end I decided the painted face adds to the quirkiness. Here she is finished. The scarf is removable. She isn't perfect but that is how it goes when its handmade. I think she is adorable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd-_F69THXnHkINZH3PzTXLmFMGPN-1E5PLQAyAIrMsjNyCbY2XvuyzvpM3KyxnbPhonIg7JuLqhMjfJkXtqqFRdcAsGXgUPqZKg3Icr24fPB0oGMzZBigYLCGAwgiPBM2sQ_wwR91tQ/s1600-h/DSCN1085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd-_F69THXnHkINZH3PzTXLmFMGPN-1E5PLQAyAIrMsjNyCbY2XvuyzvpM3KyxnbPhonIg7JuLqhMjfJkXtqqFRdcAsGXgUPqZKg3Icr24fPB0oGMzZBigYLCGAwgiPBM2sQ_wwR91tQ/s400/DSCN1085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432384709786562354" border="0" /></a><br />I am in the process of making more. All the dolls will have a photo shoot and I'll post the pictures later. If you decide to make one and have questions, holla!<br /></div>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-76528433679359124372010-01-28T16:06:00.003-06:002010-01-28T16:08:46.679-06:00Get Something and Give Something<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="400" height="100"><param name="movie" value="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/track=4243271745/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"><param name="allowNetworking" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><embed src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer.swf/track=4243271745/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" allowscriptaccess="never" allownetworking="always" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="400" height="100"></embed><noembed>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://aaronhale.bandcamp.com/track/got-a-lot-to-give"&amp;amp;gt;GOT A LOT TO GIVE by Aaron Hale&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;</noembed></object><br /><br />You can decide how much you want to pay to download this song. All the proceeds go to <a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">Real </a><a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">Hope for Haiti!</a>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-75062594694930827712010-01-24T22:56:00.004-06:002010-01-26T12:55:36.868-06:00Aubrey is awesome!Aubrey slept 7.5 hours straight the last two nights. Today she slept from 5 PM to 9 PM and I was certain she wouldn't go to bed at 10:30, her bedtime. I put her to bed and she fell asleep! So wonderful! I almost didn't even attempt it. She may not sleep as long tonight though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This picture is over a month old. I can't believe she is almost 4 months.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzuSIkD6rNHvk4cdk3kz3dxNbuF_Zce3a2AKo5dcDjU5axJ0uP_xXo8QJzd19MHJQab8Ve5uMul-6e6Nhp1bdHPg60_a1Bu3-S3VDfpdOq1zBTn5jN-4nrjTa6953oYlSspTFHBF8jEY/s1600-h/DSCN0937.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHzuSIkD6rNHvk4cdk3kz3dxNbuF_Zce3a2AKo5dcDjU5axJ0uP_xXo8QJzd19MHJQab8Ve5uMul-6e6Nhp1bdHPg60_a1Bu3-S3VDfpdOq1zBTn5jN-4nrjTa6953oYlSspTFHBF8jEY/s400/DSCN0937.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430538025379560898" border="0" /></a>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-77290367828244586482010-01-24T01:15:00.005-06:002010-01-24T01:46:00.749-06:00Heavy HeartIt is hard to post when you have a baby in your arms. Right now she is sleeping and Matt is smoking a brisket.<br /><br />Been thinking and praying a lot about Haiti. It is overwhelming for me, I can't imagine how it is for people in Haiti and those that have a connection with the country. My heart has felt heavy. I keep watching the news and checking blogs but I can do nothing more than pray and give some money.<br /><br />Here are some blogs that I have been reading from people in Haiti:<br /><a href="http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/">Real Hope for Haiti</a><br /><a href="http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/">The Livesay [Haiti] blog</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://helphaitishirt.com/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 278px;" src="http://aaronivey.portmerch.com/stores/images/P/helphaiti.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />If you would like a shirt like this<br /><---- You can get one <a href="http://helphaitishirt.com/">here</a>.<br />All the profits will go to the two organizations I linked to above.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Other ways to give:<br /><br />An <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy </a>shop where the money goes to Doctors without Borders- <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeartsforHaiti">Hearts for Haiti<br /></a>An <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy </a>shop where the money goes to Real Hope for Haiti- <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistsforhope">Artists for Hope</a><br /><br />I've also been thinking a lot about sewing. Found an awesome website with lots of links to free patterns and tutorials for everything imaginable. Even catheter bag covers! I'm not so sure why people are so down on catheters, I enjoyed the experience while I was in the hospital. ;) Here is the link: <a href="http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mcshelpsite/sewingstuff/freepatterns.html">Awesome sewing site!</a><br /><br />In about a month I am going to be an aunt, I'm pretty pumped!~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-7862457118083470202010-01-06T20:08:00.005-06:002010-01-26T12:54:59.691-06:00Lately I've been thinking about how I would want our library to look like if we ever had one. It is just fun to dream.<br /><br />I really like these bookcases but I believe Matt would say that they aren't very practical, there is a lot of empty space. It might work well as a room divider.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNVURXL89q19Ne7cpCRHZ41YyCfi35lVMwIfWbX5XOBurvrmb35TDFS8-Titj0uxVhK88OhtnwUmnY_a2XpS1s5or9FtrwoKL252BYr8Mngvq3gOmXWSYxHphKNx33WvcRpbXW3aGBy8/s1600-h/diagonal+shelves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNVURXL89q19Ne7cpCRHZ41YyCfi35lVMwIfWbX5XOBurvrmb35TDFS8-Titj0uxVhK88OhtnwUmnY_a2XpS1s5or9FtrwoKL252BYr8Mngvq3gOmXWSYxHphKNx33WvcRpbXW3aGBy8/s400/diagonal+shelves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423814351182660434" border="0" /></a>I also would like to color coordinate them for aesthetic appeal but again, not practical. Unless you remember books by their cover.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0TlTxZxMGJxJmFWqsHtFJJloXKOYEX_q1ia9JbMoxeF7PJ_LIqDzeevzzHskZ95X-UaUFZKwXR0DArr1Qvbwm8JzIlH7UWwZs-2rRTQkIfMerLamT_Z8NZxGNJzZPOgWot4s2hb8NxI/s1600-h/colorcoordinated.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0TlTxZxMGJxJmFWqsHtFJJloXKOYEX_q1ia9JbMoxeF7PJ_LIqDzeevzzHskZ95X-UaUFZKwXR0DArr1Qvbwm8JzIlH7UWwZs-2rRTQkIfMerLamT_Z8NZxGNJzZPOgWot4s2hb8NxI/s400/colorcoordinated.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423815461932839138" border="0" /></a>I think if we had a staircase that would be a good place for books. Not as closed in as this but it is interesting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQw2xwaWLHmZEi1Xcj27CoclQK16xJTmtOXGPbDKvqA2v1kQRG0X4Tl4qqpD1_6eFhgeY_Sh1_Qh3QWJQqT0etBvTPzzXLFgIE5n0BLDfCJMv8OZwRDPyHRyf-CBw5MPz2ryaWcE_YYk/s1600-h/bookshelf_staircase.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQw2xwaWLHmZEi1Xcj27CoclQK16xJTmtOXGPbDKvqA2v1kQRG0X4Tl4qqpD1_6eFhgeY_Sh1_Qh3QWJQqT0etBvTPzzXLFgIE5n0BLDfCJMv8OZwRDPyHRyf-CBw5MPz2ryaWcE_YYk/s400/bookshelf_staircase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423815467187376642" border="0" /></a>Just another interesting bookcase...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTJcV_JiQFkgIO30hKeoXgPDBMaWRYOsvh0JyM3kQDe431HljBefr68q3HESTvZsk-JZ2IjCnvOkmA5YfSVrWsFgMHPt1dkOZTuCgUnSOSedgKh_CWoodQQjqjV7odAmrw3gkhxtGL7Q/s1600-h/map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTJcV_JiQFkgIO30hKeoXgPDBMaWRYOsvh0JyM3kQDe431HljBefr68q3HESTvZsk-JZ2IjCnvOkmA5YfSVrWsFgMHPt1dkOZTuCgUnSOSedgKh_CWoodQQjqjV7odAmrw3gkhxtGL7Q/s400/map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423815474253000610" border="0" /></a>Time to hold a baby.~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-34629035767942116732009-12-08T00:23:00.004-06:002009-12-08T00:33:42.091-06:00ThanksgivingLuckily Matt and I live close enough to our parents that we get to spend time with both sides for the holidays. For Thanksgiving we alternate whose side of the family we eat with but either way we see them on Thanksgiving day. This year we ate with the Ellis'. Well, everyone ate while I fed Aubry and then they watched me eat. :) The food is always good but this being the fifth year I've been, the food really felt like it was <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> traditional holiday food. Very yummy and I wish I had some green bean casserole right now. The gathering was a little smaller this year but Duane, Marsha and Grandma came over the night before to see Aubrey. Here are some pictures that my mother-in-law sent me, as I still do not have the cord for the camera. Matt???<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AuOkeGjhQS8BxtiITcG5grMGoZP4-4kB8MVP2sxKrvh5T9OaxWFhFwgTZ3j6KpOblAch2yuYqmbIo3BfzrHW8xaJAD3IovKNTO_yfIHTe-uFYFl799BdayCfjqA4Bh1hC3plVzxxWjk/s1600-h/aubry+and+grandpa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AuOkeGjhQS8BxtiITcG5grMGoZP4-4kB8MVP2sxKrvh5T9OaxWFhFwgTZ3j6KpOblAch2yuYqmbIo3BfzrHW8xaJAD3IovKNTO_yfIHTe-uFYFl799BdayCfjqA4Bh1hC3plVzxxWjk/s400/aubry+and+grandpa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412748689499219170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5Hfr11c2yNY7JS-cVQNqKbO2HdX8IOiYIyRR59CuncuNF0FKcJBXnuE7QUx-344tvhdg38CpsvsJjBd_oRHumhObPFkeRl20diO1C3ZIB1647FjcbI_6C64dmYZKWcgQaHv-vVaxsw8/s1600-h/GetAttachment.aspx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5Hfr11c2yNY7JS-cVQNqKbO2HdX8IOiYIyRR59CuncuNF0FKcJBXnuE7QUx-344tvhdg38CpsvsJjBd_oRHumhObPFkeRl20diO1C3ZIB1647FjcbI_6C64dmYZKWcgQaHv-vVaxsw8/s400/GetAttachment.aspx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412749323620260690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLrzyYJ55KY3qMpv3ZYY2r-ujzN8CTV2k9McTCaC1aCVxEuEcgzwv1W2nS4PWOg-0hSq_ai-N4pZbs8WN0Pzrqn1BeEXJ2Nl1B-iPzz0oaqvsznbLvy345U8yVjBIf9hnATiSJfI1JzM/s1600-h/aubry,+duane+and+marsha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLrzyYJ55KY3qMpv3ZYY2r-ujzN8CTV2k9McTCaC1aCVxEuEcgzwv1W2nS4PWOg-0hSq_ai-N4pZbs8WN0Pzrqn1BeEXJ2Nl1B-iPzz0oaqvsznbLvy345U8yVjBIf9hnATiSJfI1JzM/s400/aubry,+duane+and+marsha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412748684557416114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9PEok8R7SGYpYcKm4-oGgSyl5iSTie4KMRGCFIb7F7nl7J-9uW2O4dcoS2mMBawYPEn42lGg4OzbvW4hOrh2s5OUesf69KezjIqLLaMalt9tscev8nh8-s0kEn2iHx0Tach3ucfnTiI/s1600-h/aubry's+outfit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9PEok8R7SGYpYcKm4-oGgSyl5iSTie4KMRGCFIb7F7nl7J-9uW2O4dcoS2mMBawYPEn42lGg4OzbvW4hOrh2s5OUesf69KezjIqLLaMalt9tscev8nh8-s0kEn2iHx0Tach3ucfnTiI/s400/aubry's+outfit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412748694418566114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBO-gyXKKocLUj-lJUBYG74cKpYd_7Y3Tlcq61Y8AmPo_G6mWANpguGvatWzVBnna618itA63gvRE_ZF3od4ye1XLSUKGqQYUxwv5zRTMPqjoFpeI8Sl6SpNkxWRunvoBMf0Gb3oX2h0/s1600-h/thansgiving09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBO-gyXKKocLUj-lJUBYG74cKpYd_7Y3Tlcq61Y8AmPo_G6mWANpguGvatWzVBnna618itA63gvRE_ZF3od4ye1XLSUKGqQYUxwv5zRTMPqjoFpeI8Sl6SpNkxWRunvoBMf0Gb3oX2h0/s400/thansgiving09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412748708701550434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03_IqT8X8XBUY4DKpjcEkmUSM8CY8NfpQgF7Pttwd9qftn_NJxLnlsnvtc2LBwZAvJXkIVSE1ITStJ2-JEDPrvL20Qg68Uq3x3Kpu33CxgUvNeiy6f7jdQuF3Tjrp-tLgz5oHt6qnlEU/s1600-h/aubry,+philip,+and+kim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03_IqT8X8XBUY4DKpjcEkmUSM8CY8NfpQgF7Pttwd9qftn_NJxLnlsnvtc2LBwZAvJXkIVSE1ITStJ2-JEDPrvL20Qg68Uq3x3Kpu33CxgUvNeiy6f7jdQuF3Tjrp-tLgz5oHt6qnlEU/s400/aubry,+philip,+and+kim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412748701136661554" border="0" /></a>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-73603627866434855882009-12-07T19:36:00.004-06:002009-12-07T19:47:48.584-06:00Almost 2 Months!Aubrey will be two months old tomorrow. She is super awesome. You will just have to believe me because the cord to upload photos is in Matt's truck.<br /><br />He is at a sleep study for the night. He probably has sleep apnea, basically meaning he stops breathing. Most likely he will be getting a mask that will help. That will be great for many reasons...more rest for him, more peace of mind for me, less snoring and since he will be more rested maybe I can convince him to do more things. So the mask= more fun.<br /><br />Christmas time is soon. We put up our tree last weekend while listening to Jars of Clay's new Christmas CD. Today I started making Aubrey's stocking and then realized I do not have red thread so for now it is just cut out.<br /><br />Aubrey has had a stuffy nose the last few days. Tomorrow and Thursday are Matt's work parties. We had planned on going to them both, but with a Dr. appointment on Wednesday...I'm not sure if we will make it to both. Three days of being out doesn't seem so wise. If she is seeming well in the morning we will go tomorrow. She has some cute Christmas clothes but I'm not sure if they are warm enough or fit. If she wears them I will definitely take a picture but who knows if it will make it to this blog.<br /><br />Enjoy the weather!~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-72778894921124963262009-11-17T22:38:00.003-06:002009-11-17T22:59:09.143-06:00Photo Update<div style="text-align: center;">Here she is in one of her Halloween onesies on<br />the awesome blanket her Great Grandmother Ellis quilted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k8DPWZ7iXZsoHVkkKYCZPsjQqPVox6KUuCDHARnTBzgX48059QhmbcQzCFmlBz3QbznbeiYGFymFor4wH4ySyzYEk97-DFgx-TB6t_F6D96x_Ld1rH31FfDKR9AXTdJx3za5C88eAv4/s1600/halloween.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0k8DPWZ7iXZsoHVkkKYCZPsjQqPVox6KUuCDHARnTBzgX48059QhmbcQzCFmlBz3QbznbeiYGFymFor4wH4ySyzYEk97-DFgx-TB6t_F6D96x_Ld1rH31FfDKR9AXTdJx3za5C88eAv4/s400/halloween.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405301158445572194" border="0" /></a>Aubrey and Daddy annoying her. ;)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMDMKhV2BFaYWY_BbB-cBMDJb9wxizvOE7g7iee3Xw558jcPCDeVFGmVUzysJdn9xk7jMAKMUSdiHS92w6OXZma8De2gZnvjmjjQMgT1wTW8AnJkTuMO0fumfd7TUuYRDdDL2lsrtaUc/s1600/Matt+and+Aubrey+on+floor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMDMKhV2BFaYWY_BbB-cBMDJb9wxizvOE7g7iee3Xw558jcPCDeVFGmVUzysJdn9xk7jMAKMUSdiHS92w6OXZma8De2gZnvjmjjQMgT1wTW8AnJkTuMO0fumfd7TUuYRDdDL2lsrtaUc/s400/Matt+and+Aubrey+on+floor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405301150901978370" border="0" /></a>Sleeping on Mommy in her boy clothes.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ABRu2vXtdYekFDMKPklCiXM_1cWjqBy563vn1X9VfvcAprh1Xpdd7LO4eNoOxrMk29erpr8rS8MSlSs6MgdLhHpyKTxfokNu5-WCiOjpWDz4bAjMhVE3QukiXjNMVsSuVyDArXDB-T0/s1600/Aubrey+and+mommy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ABRu2vXtdYekFDMKPklCiXM_1cWjqBy563vn1X9VfvcAprh1Xpdd7LO4eNoOxrMk29erpr8rS8MSlSs6MgdLhHpyKTxfokNu5-WCiOjpWDz4bAjMhVE3QukiXjNMVsSuVyDArXDB-T0/s400/Aubrey+and+mommy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405301149468302866" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Ellis Family<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqvmCyFUGNghAcD8g-i2BYxTXc4L306p8qGdFK2AG2Lkkb88TySe60Xk1g-7rcAGaXKArFiZRkyI2t4RhMTD6oL2inCeu1LkIp_b1ABaUUM4K3rd5H5Yxc0bCEeXM66OWfYXLvd7K-Gk/s1600/family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqvmCyFUGNghAcD8g-i2BYxTXc4L306p8qGdFK2AG2Lkkb88TySe60Xk1g-7rcAGaXKArFiZRkyI2t4RhMTD6oL2inCeu1LkIp_b1ABaUUM4K3rd5H5Yxc0bCEeXM66OWfYXLvd7K-Gk/s400/family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405301143291373154" border="0" /></a>~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-61349210901681833302009-11-14T14:20:00.003-06:002009-11-14T14:40:14.233-06:005 weeks oldAubrey was 5 weeks Thursday and she is doing great. The Dr. said she was perfect! At her 1 month check up she weight 9 lbs. 15 ounces and was 22.5 inches long. She has already outgrown some clothes and is out of her cradle because she moves around too much at night. She isn't sleeping through the night but I've gotten the hang of having an infant and things are going pretty smoothly.<br /><br />Not a lot going on really...just staring at Aubrey. I'm excited about the holidays. I've lost all the baby weight and then some but my pre-pregnancy clothes still do not fit because things are not in the same place, a lot of extra skin. Hopefully I won't gain over the holidays.<br /><br />Adrien and Lyric were over the other day and my house is definitely not baby proof. I'll have to pack up all the candles and little items here soon.<br /><br />Arrggh!!! I can't find the camera. Still no pictures~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-28182846194534944172009-10-16T15:22:00.008-05:002009-10-23T20:39:01.864-05:00Aubrey's First 8 Days<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WARNING!!!</span></span> This is probably going to be a long post and may contain too much information for some.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Thursday:</span> Matt and I went to the Dr. in the morning and he said that Aubrey had not dropped and I had not dilated anymore than one centimeter, if that. He said "Come back Monday (12th) and we will see how your progress is going and let's go ahead and schedule an induction for Wednesday (14th)." Not the news we wanted to hear...but it did help convince Matt that we needed to go walking around and what better place than Target? :) They have super cute baby stuff! We definitely don't need anything but it is fun to look. So on we go to Target and walk around for about 40 minutes. While we are there Matt convinces me to get another pair of maternity pants and two maternity shirts because I had outgrown everything. After that we headed home and decided we needed to go to the grocery store for me to walk around some more in the hopes that Aubrey would drop. On the way home my water broke!<br />We had been praying that my water would break (only 25% break on their own) so we would know when it was time to head to the hospital. God answered that prayer for sure. On to the hospital...<br /><br />At the hospital we tell them my water was broke and the said "okay, let's make sure," I'm thinking is the trail down the hall not enough proof? They have me sit on a <span style="font-style: italic;">fabric</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>chair while I give them all of my info. to check in and I say "Are you sure you want me to sit in this chair?" she says "Yes, go ahead." A few minutes later I am in triage and the nurse is about to test the fluids coming out of me. You do this by placing a test strip in the fluid and if it turns blue that means you have amniotic fluid. At the same time another nurse comes in and says "She left a puddle in the fabric chair and I tested it, her water definitely broke." I say "I told y'all I shouldn't have set in that chair." The send me on to a labor and delivery room...<br /><br />In the labor and delivery room I labor. They hook me up to an IV, put a baby heart rate monitor on me and a contraction monitor. These things were so annoying and I kept thinking that I should have had the baby at home to avoid all these wires. I was in active labor at the hospital for about 6 hours and at some point I sat on a birthing ball and vomited my lunch, it felt wonderful, seriously. I believe I have a pretty high pain tolerance, I dilated all the way to a 10 without any medication and no screaming or yelling. The pain I had a month ago when my finger randomly swelled up for a week was much worse than the labor pains. Unfortunately I didn't get to experience pushing Aubrey out.<br /><br />Unknown to me Aubrey's heart rate was dangerously low when I would have contractions. The nurse was very good about not stressing me over it. She would just say "now the baby's heart rate is a little low so I'm going to have you move to your right/left side and see if that helps." Usually the heart rate is suppose to be in the 120s-140s range so I was thinking it was near 120 , I couldn't see the monitor to realize it was 60. So when I was dilated to a 6 she had me moving around like crazy, even had me get on all fours on top of the bed. I told the nurses that they were crazy and that I haven't been able to move around like that for two months but I went ahead and did what they said. In about 3 minutes I dilated from a 6 to a 10 and had the urge to push and I began to do so. By this time there were probably 7 nurses in the room moving like crazy to get me ready for an emergency cesarean section because of Aubrey's heart rate.In seconds they were running down the hall, pushing me to the operating room. Matt wasn't allowed to come because they didn't have time for him to put on scrubs and get sanitized. They told him to wait in the room and that they would let him know what was going on later. I don't think I realized fully that I was having a C-section I just thought "oh good, I'll get to see Aubrey soon." Since I didn't have an epidural and they had to get Aubrey out quick they gave me anesthesia and I was out in seconds and Aubrey was out within 5 minutes, born at 8:32 PM. I was knocked out so I didn't get to see her being delivered. She had meconium on her so she was taken to the newborn ICU. Meconium is the baby's first bowel movements and it can be dangerous if ingested. It also took some effort to get her breathing and pinking up. Her APGAR scores were 5,7,9. She turned out to be great and she was going to join Matt and I in the mother/baby unit as soon as I woke up from surgery. Matt got to go in and see her in the NICU. I didn't fully recover until about 4 hours later and that was when I got to see Aubrey. I breastfed her a little but after being out of the womb for 4 hours she was already in a sleeping pattern. Matt's parents, my parents and my brother, Jacob, came to see here after Matt and I got to see her. Then we got some much needed rest.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Friday: </span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>First thing in the morning the nurse comes in telling us she has some bad news. They had done blood work to check my liver enzymes and discovered that I had developed preeclampsia, which is a temporary issue having to do with high blood pressure. Women with preeclampsia are known to have seizures. To ensure that I wouldn't have seizures I was sent back to the labor and delivery unit where my blood pressure could be monitored constantly and they would give me magnesium sulfate for 24 hours. "The magnesium sulfate makes you feel miserable, I can't think of any other way to describe it," says the nurse "you also won't be able to eat until the treatment is done." It did make me feel pretty bad, I felt to weak to hold my head up. My blood pressure was taken every hour, making it hard to sleep. Matt was exhausted from the night before but we had a wonderful nurse who helped take care of Aubrey, she was so sweet to my baby girl. By the time the treatment was over I had not eaten for 48 hours.<br /><br />In the afternoon we were sent back to the mother/baby unit and spent two more nights there, making our hospital stay four nights.<br /><br />Throughout my pregnancy I couldn't picture my daughter wearing pink all the time and being girlie. One night the nurse brought her back in our room after her bath wrapped up in a pink blanket with a pink bow stuck to her head. My heart just melted, she was so cute!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Monday and Tuesday: </span></span>The newly expanded Ellis family got to go home! We tried to rest and had some visitors. My mother and Aunt Judy cleaned the house and decorated it for fall! It was an awesome surprise to come home to. I love to decorate for the seasons and holidays but had been too tired in the last weeks of my pregnancy to do so. Matt's parents brought over homemade meals to last more than a week. Thanks!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wednesday: </span></span>This day was a day full of driving and Dr. appointments. Aubrey had her appointment first in Athens with Dr. Shaw. Overall Aubrey was looking good but had lost too much weight. She was down to 6 lbs. 11 oz., 14.37% less than her birth weight. Most babies lose 7%-14%. Dr. Shaw said to continue breastfeeding but to supplement with formula. She said we can expect to gain .5 oz - 1 oz. a day by doing this. We were told to come back Friday to check her weight. We were really disappointed to hear this. I already felt like I had missed out on a bonding time with Aubrey by not being awake when she was delivered, now was it possible I wasn't able to breastfeed?<br /><br />Our plans were to leave for Tyler after seeing the pediatrician but we decided to head home first and get things ready for formula feeding. My mother ended up bringing over already mixed formula and we gave that a try. Aubrey drank it. The whole time I was worried that Aubrey would get nipple confusion and not breastfeed any longer. More importantly though, I wanted her to eat. On to Tyler...<br /><br />Everything at my appointment went great. I lost 26 lbs. already, probably mostly water weight from my swelling.<br /><br />After my appointment we sat in the parking garage and I attempted to breastfeed and then formula feed without any success. She had spit up the formula from that morning, leaving her with little nutrition in her body. This was around 2:30 and she had not been alert the whole day, barely opened her eyes even when we tried very hard to wake her. I broke down completely. I didn't know if we should go across the street to the hospital or not. We ended up going to see the lactation consultant. She was wonderful. She had me pump my breast milk and then give it to Aubrey. She said that we should pump and feed Aubrey every two hours for the next 24 hours. She believed that my breast milk was delayed from coming in because of multiple factors; c-section, anesthesia, lack of food for 48 hours, magnesium sulfate. My milk had finally come in but it is likely that Aubrey had little to eat in the last day or two because my colostrum was gone by day three or four.<br /><br />Matt and I had a tiring rest of the day as I pumped for Aubrey every two hours and Matt fed her.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Thursday:</span></span> wake up: pump: feed: sleep: repeat<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday:</span></span> Another day of Dr. visits, but more encouraging. Aubrey had her second PKU test at the hospital. We met with the lactation consultant, Aubrey latched on and fed really well. Yay! Next we went for her weight check and she has gained 8 ounces!! That is half a pound, putting her at 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 10% below her birth weight. The plan is to now breast feed her on demand or every three hours untill she gets back to her birth weight. Her next check up is on the 22nd so we will be doing it at least until then.<br /><br />Very few things have gone as we planned/hoped but overall it has been a wonderful experience for me. Matt and I now have a precious child that I love more than I ever thought I could. The complications with delivery even have their upside. Since I was out of commission from the surgery and pain medications Matt took care of Aubrey the first four days of her life. I think it really helped to bond them. I am sad that I missed out on so much already but I have her whole life to look forward to!<br /><br />I was going to post pictures along with this but they will have to come at a later time. I have a pretty girl to take care.~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009610481007544727.post-84821909878446591922009-10-05T22:41:00.002-05:002009-10-05T22:50:24.823-05:00Quick UpdateI had a doctor's appointment this afternoon. My blood pressure was a little high but went back down after about 20 minutes. I wonder if the short walk inside made it go up? Anyway, I was told not to work anymore. My feet and legs are super swollen and I gained an extremely large amount of weight, I'll just go ahead and tell you, 13 pounds in a week! How ridiculous. The Dr. told me to watch my salt intake and that if I had been further along in dilation (I'm still a 1 and Aubrey is still high) that he probably would have sent me over to the hospital to be induced. He ordered an ultrasound to make sure everything is okay and it was. Aubrey's estimated weight is 8 lbs. 4 ounces but that could be off by 1 pound in either direction.<br /><br />So...I have an appointment Thursday morning and I'm thinking that if I am dilated anymore that I will probably get induced or if I have gained more weight and have high blood pressure that I will get induced and possibly end up having a C-section if labor does not progress? Hopefully not. I'm feeling fine physically but emotionally I feel like I have already failed as a mother.<br /><br />I was going to work tomorrow but now with no real reason to get up early I haven't managed to go to sleep yet, I suppose I'll go try again.~Matthew and Jodi Beth~http://www.blogger.com/profile/09449590699235091035noreply@blogger.com2