My Baby Ain't No Baby

So my "baby girl" turns 5 tomorrow. I cannot believe how fast the time goes. For some reason it is so hard for me to look at pictures of her as the sweet baby she was, and know that time is passed. I was talking to a friend at work about this phenomena today. Her daughter turns 17 on Monday. She was discussing how sad she is for her to go to college next year and be away where she won't see her daily. Somehow I know that time is going to pass faster than I can hold on to, and that is terrifying.
So tonight, I laid with her as she fell asleep and I breathed in her as a 4yr old. I will try so hard to be awake and aware through these years and really appreciate her for who she is, the wonders of her age, and not take a moment for granted (same for Ethan). It's so easy to wish they were more dependent, can't wait until they sleep in, and all those fleeting thoughts we have during the hard times. I just really don't ever want to lose my little girl.
So here is my suggestion and thought for tonight...here is my 5 gratitudes for my daughter:
1. She is so naturally benevolent.
2. She is spunky.
3. She loves hugs and kisses and snuggles.
4. She gives the biggest and best hugs!
5. She looks at me in awe.

And lets not forget about Scott...here are his lyrics:
"And I live my life to be with you,
No one can do the things you do,
Anything you want, you got it
Anything you need, you got it,
Anything at all, you got it.....baby"- Roy Orbison

Submarines, Ahoy!

I'll start his blog post off saying, that instead of dating these blog posts I am going to move to titles...since the blog post is already dated.

Now that is out of the way...let's move on to submarines. My husband is a submariner, and I bought some submarine hats from a fellow Homefront Team Etsian, named Moose Threads. Her yarn is so soft and her hats so well made! I thought these hats would be a perfect way to not only remember Daddy while he is deployed, and showing our pride, but also as a way to dress for him when he has homecoming later this year.

My husband has been gone since May and we still have quite a while to go. We are a Navy family, and there is so much pride in being a submariner. They are just cool!

So things are going good. I just started back to work full time and how to juggle, work, family, Etsy, exercise, housework and my sanity is a mystery. I do not want to let go of my shops, so I am trying to change my habits to make all this work. I plan on only going to the post office every Wednesday and Saturday, doing creation and photos on weekends and listing those new items during the week. This will be hard for me, because I prefer to list immediately. Not sure why, I guess I just get excited to see the reactions. Probably by the time I hit a rhythm, Scott will be home and it will all be screwed!

I am trying to allow myself to take it easy and do as best as I can, and not worry so much about doing everything. I'm just going to try working it, and see what may end up falling out.

So this weekend I got my house in order (literally and figuratively), and we are ready for a new week ahead.

Gratitude:

1. Neighbors who this week, mowed my lawn, took my trash back from the curb, took my umbrellas down for the storm, and cleaned up the floors in my house.

2. My new job rocks!

3. I got an email from my husband.

4. The kids liking and doing well in school so far this year.

5. Catching a rhythm to get through this deployment.

Lyrics for Scott:

"Love Rescue Me, Come Forth and Speak to Me,

Raise me up, and Don't Let Me Fall" -U2

July 16th 2008

Yowza...10 days! Like I said before time is passing super fast...which is a good thing with a deployed husband, but there is a lot of things to do daily....no rest for the wicked, right?

Well here I am about to go to TX for my 30th birthday in a couple of weeks. I am so excited to have company, and have a hand with the kids. AND I CANNOT WAIT to see my brothers! If I have never written about them before, I have 2 brothers, Bill and Tom. Bill is 10 years older than me, and Tom is 9 years older than me. Yes, I am the baby and the only girl, and only dropped out of my princess syndrome, when my dad started viewing me as a mom versus a sweetheart. Any way, I love my brother dearly! And because they are men we rarely talk other than when we are visiting.

Also I have some updates on my daughter Ryann. After 2 years of fighting her to get her to poop in the potty and not in her pants, I can safely say, she is COMPLETELY potty trained. No accidents in 6 weeks! She did well at this last summer, when Scott was away, and then reverted when he got back...lets home 6 months is long enough to make it stick! She has also begun to take showers and swings herself on a swing....she is a big girl now. I am so proud. She is such an amazing girl. She is sweet, beautiful, mischievous, and adorable! I am so in love with her. I cross my fingers daily, that as she gets older we continue to stay close.

Ethan is doing pretty good at therapy, and LOVES his teachers there. He gets a ton of attention there, and all the staff seem to be in love with him. This is so important since he is used to always being the one in trouble, or the "bad kid". He has found a place for acceptance.

BIG NEWS! Well Bubba & Rye, now has a subsidiary...Lilac Ave. I opened up a candle shop..full of soy candles with cool containers. It has been 6 days and I have had 2 sales, many hearts, and many views! I had the best critique ever on Etsy, when a poster said, "you are destined for greatness"...lets hope that holds water.

So if you are interested: http://www.lilacave.etsy.com/

Gratitude:

1. This upcoming trip to Texas.

2. A great relationship with my family.

3. A truly incredible daughter.

4. Finding a place where Ethan can feel included and loved, and fulfilled in spirit.

5. Loving every minute of my business!

Lyrics for Scott:

"I won't go, I won't sleep, I can't breathe, until you're resting here with me.

I won't leave, I can't hide, I cannot be until you're resting here with me"- Dido

April 8, 2008

So today was good. After 3 sales in the last week, I am excited and motivated! Also a tip from a fellow Etsian led me to call a local church that is having a bazaar on Saturday. It is $35, and it is being advertised in the newspaper and amongst fellow parishes. AND it's indoors, so I don't have to worry about the pesky weather. I'm excited to get out there and promote and sell, and see what I am capable of.

Also I may have found a place to consign and that is really exciting as well. It is not local, but given the weight, etc of cards, it should be easy to manage and ship from a distance. So Bubba & Rye seems to be advancing!

Otherwise things have been good. The kids are under control, my husband is home from sea for a short while, and I am eating well and exercising. Things are just bright and shiny...even though the weather is not following suit!!

April 5, 2008

I hadn't realized it had been so long since I last entered into my blog. I'm sure no one was waiting with baited breath! LOL!

Well, today has been an informative and somewhat disappointing day. I went to the Virginia Beach Farmers Market to check it out, since I wanted to set up a booth there next weekend. They let crafters set up booths in the parking lot for $12/day. There was no one there....no craft vendors, no customers. Today was a somewhat rainy day, so I'm sure that impacted it, but I am growing more and more concerned that this may not be the pot of gold I was hoping for. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place in so many ways. 1) I can't afford the $125-$225 craft show fees...I would have to sell 250 cards to make it worthwhile! And here is a $12 venue, that has no traffic, and is completely weather dependent. 2) When the weather gets better, and the Farmers Market in VA Beach gets more traffic, as well as a Hampton Farmers Market that I was researching, my husband will be deployedand I will have no one to watch my kids.

So then the question becomes how can I get my online business to produce more??? My husband is home now, so I am urginig him to get my website fully up. And I will look into promoting on Majaba, and really trying to advertise with Etsy and iCraft.

Otherwise things are going well. I'm posting one of my new creative experiences....fabric cards! I love it. I feel like I am really advancing artistically. I also came to the realization that I do not like sewing, so I am trying to destash my fabric on Etsy and Ebay, to hopefully gain more money to finance the cards and painting.