Fall

Happy Halloween.... and now onto November

Wow, Fall has come so fast this year. Well it seems that everything has come and gone so fast this year. We had a great year so far. We went trick or treating on Halloween. Hannah had fun being meme or Minnie Mouse. Mr. Noah man was a football. He mostly slept once we going. Hannah totally milked the system, she would let the people put the candy in her bucket and then stick her hand in the candy dish and take another handful. She has enjoyed some candy and her mommy has enjoyed way to much candy. I am going to take the rest into work to get rid of it. I am still trying to lose the Mommy weight that Mr. Noah has blessed me with. Its a work in progress.

I Love this time of year. The changing weather, cold mornings, hot coffee or hot chocolate, warm dinners on a dark night, comfy jammies and a blanket to snuggle, its even better having two little munchkins to snuggle too. It is also a great time to stop and reflex on Thanksgiving.

I have been reading some blogs on how people using this season to give back to others. I think that is such a great idea. But being a little low on funds, I am going to use this time to reflex on what has been given to me, and be thankful for all that I have and have not been given.

Today is day two. I am thankful that God has been providing for us. We have had a little bit of a rough time finically since I have had Noah. Living on a much lower income is sometimes a challenge, I don't get to shop like I used to, or even buy the preferred groceries at times. But in exchange I have got to spend some awesome time getting to know the little blessing that God gave me. There was a time a couple of years ago when I longed to have a baby. I felt like I would do just about anything to have one. And now I have been given not one but two. I prayed and he answered. It was a long time waiting for the answer, but here we are. And he is still faithful. Even with the money seems to run out and it is a day or a week late, he provides, sometimes in an expected way, but has always provided for us.

Entry from my journal today: That you love me, you hear my prayers and you answer them. You know my needs and meet them.

Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this and he answered our prayer.

Unplugged. Unprocessed. Challenged.

Family:

I have been really challenged lately. I really want the best for my family, for our life. I am really sad that my time off is slowly coming to an end, I go back to work in two weeks. I know that it is the best for our family at this time. And I am so very thankful that I get to work from home, but there is a great deal of time that I spend working at home and not playing with my kids. I do pray that there will be a time that I can stay at home and devote my days to my children. But until then, I will go and work. And use my time that I have and make it quality time.

Food:

Wanting what is best for my family, I have been really watching what we are eating. We have been eating less processed foods. I am feeling great, and eating the way that God intended it to be has been really good. After learning about what some of the ingredients that are in our foods that we eat everyday it is kinda scary. It makes me want to make everything from scratch. But that is unrealistic, so I have been trying to make better decisions for our family. Jacob was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 4 years ago. Ever since then our food world has been totally turned upside down, we did really good at first, the slowly faded back into the life of processed. It is really easy to live processed, it is convenient and much cheaper, but not so heathy.

So with a little planning and reading of labels, we are making some progress. It has been over a week since we have eaten out, with the exception of frozen yogurt, my weakness ;). Bottom line, it is worth the extra time in the kitchen.

Tv. Internet.

In short, I am going to unplug more. Spend time where it really matters. I was pouring milk for Hannah yesterday when I suddenly realized, I am not going to get back the time I wasted today. Life is soooo short, and I do waste so much time watching tv or online or doing whatever. That being said, I am still going to have time for myself, wasting it away online and sitting in front of the tv. Just not when I could be doing something more fun with the kids or going outside and enjoying God's beautiful creation.

The World.

I want to make the most of today. Not living for tomorrow. I recently listened to a sermon by Pastor Barry that really brought new perspective in my life. I am no longer going to wait for tomorrow before I start living. If I wait for tomorrow to start serving, or doing the work of God, it is NEVER going to come, there will always be a distraction or hindrance, or I will never be good enough. So today is the day. Ministry starts at home, and that is perfect because that is where I am. I have thought that life would be so great if.... we had a house, a large lot of land, lived in the county somewhere, had all our debts paid off, had more time, but all those if's have been holding us (me) back from living for today. Today is the day that GOD gave us (me). So TODAY is the day to live for. Sure it would be great if we had all those things, but it is no reason to NOT live for today. Make the most of each moment.

Life starts today. Why wait. Be challenged.

Blog a Log

Life is feels normal for me, again. I feel adjusted to having to little munchkins. And I LOVE it.

I also Love pinerest. It has so many ideas for food, decor, style, ect. it's so much fun. I have done a couple of projects with the ideas that I have found on there.

I made a pumpkin spiced latte. It was good, but not quite starbucks. I am not sure how to make it extra creamy, but am working on it.

,

I also made a door wreath. It came out ok, I used a tube to make the wreath. I think next time I will use a bigger tube or stick wreath.

So aside from little projects here and there I have been trying to change my life style on food. That is one thing that I love.... FOOD! Jacob was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of years ago. When he came home from the hospital we completely changed our lifestyle with food. We both lost a lot of weight and felt great. But over the years we slowly let some bad foods back into our diets.

He recently went into the Drs and was told that his sugars aren't doing so well. In effort to get him healthy again, and to lose the rest of this baby weight, I meet with a dietitian. She is has such a great passion for health and gave me some great pointers on eating. So for the past week or so, I have putting her wisdom to practice. And what a difference.

I am feeling great, eating better, and losing weight. I haven't measured a thing, still eating whenever I am hungry, and haven't even counted a calorie. It has really made me think about what I am putting into my body. What God intended for me to put into my body. When did the world turn into everything packaged and processes. That is not how it was meant to be. Jacob and I have both lost weight. I am praying that this new life style sticks. It really helps that we are both on board and that I want my children to know what real food is.

So that's it for now.

I have found some balance in this crazy mommy world of mine. Hooray! I am still only getting about 3 hours of sleep at a time but Hannah has been sleeping much better so for now I will take my 3 hours and not complain.

Noah is now 7 weeks old. He is so chubby, and Happy. I love him so much. He is so easy going and just goes with the flow.

Hannah is still a great big sister. Hasn't tired to kill him. I started taking her to the library for story time. She really seems to like it. It is just enough structure to help her prepare for school but fun at the same time.

Well it has been about an hour since I have started this entry, and that is all I have been able to get done because I am constantly interrupted. And I am being summonsed once again. Until next time.

FInding Balance

This whole Mom "thing" is much more difficult that I had thought it was going to be. No one said it was easy, but trying to juggle two kids is so much more than I thought it would be.

It has been three weeks now since Noah came into this crazy world. He is doing great. He is still a great eater, and sleeper, although he is sleeping less than he was when he was first born. He had a check up this week and has already gained a little over a pound. We don't have to go back for another check up until he is two months.

Hannah is adjusting. She is not really sleeping through the night, and has slept in our bed the last couple of nights. I have no idea what is going on with her. I am sure it's part teething, and part Noah, but it just makes for even less sleep for me and Jacob. She is super cute with her babies, she does everything I do for Noah for her babies, burps them, tries to put diapers on them. She is such a little mama.

I am almost fully recovered from delivery. It has gotten a lot easier to get out, although with this heat, I haven't really gone anywhere. I do look forward to doing more on the weekends when Jacob is home with us.

So here is the balancing act for me. Where do I find time to be a mom, wife, study the bible, and have time with friends, let alone plan dinners, keep up on housework, grocery shop and start thinking about when I can exercise? I haven't! It has been difficult for me in that aspect. I want to make the most of my time with my babies. I want to sit and just stare at Noah, like I did with Hannah. I want to take Hannah to the park for walks like I did before Noah was here. But the reality is, I can't. My time is now divided, it's been hard for me to accept this change. I knew that there would be change in having another child, but I didn't think it would be so hard for me to adjust. I have had some awesome women in my life speaking encouragement to me and reminding me that it is just a season. The biggest factor is this season is so short, as tired as I am I want to take in every moment with my babies, because before I know it, he will be the size of Hannah and she will be even bigger. Having Noah has made me realize how fast 21 months goes by because it was just yesterday that was Hannah.

I wish I could just press the pause button. I need to slow down. The housework is not as important as the memories I could be making with my family.

Family of Four

We are officially a family of four. Noah Jacob Masciave arrived 8/1/2011 at 4:51pm, weighing 8lbs 4oz, 19 1/2 inches long. He is now 11 days old and we are home and all doing great. I love it! Hannah is doing so well. She is such a great sister. Noah is such a champ too. He wakes up about every four hours to eat, and is a great eater too. I feel so blessed. I love being a mom of two! I am so very thankful for what God has given us. Masciave, family of four. Thank you Jesus!

9 months!!!

So I have made it 9 months. I am considered term now. Now will someone please tell my new little bundle of joy, Noah to get OUT! I am so done and as big as a house. Mainly I am just concerned about the delivery, the Dr said that he is big, and I don't want a C-section. At my appointment yesterday, my Dr striped my membranes, and I am still pregnant so I am hoping that it will hurry up and work soon. I have started to have contractions just not regular, and not very painful.

I am super excited for Hannah to be a sister too. She is such a sweetie. I have really been enjoying the last days of just "us", even though I am so done with the belly.

I guess I will just have to wait.... and wait and wait and wait. Only God knows the time.