God Will Lead, We Will Follow.

Rose of Siam taken at the Hawaii Botanical Gardens 8/2008

I thought I would share my thoughts and more details about our family's future.

On Monday Aaron submitted his 2 weeks resignation. This was a long, hard, well thought out and prayed over decision. I don't feel at liberty to share too many details to the world wide web - but it is for the better for everyone. We both feel like it is the best decision for our family and that it was God's arrangement that the events that led us to that decision occurred when they did. So Tuesday is Aaron's last day - it isn't 2 weeks, but we had already planned a trip to Portland for a Business as Missions conference for the rest of the week.

So - how are we going to pay our bills? I've got a job at the hospital here in town lined up to start as soon as my background check clears (living in 4 states and 2 countries in the last 7 years is slowing things down a bit). I will work at least 2 days a week and possibly more if needed. Aaron is starting his own business as a web services contractor. He will offer businesses affordable web services to help them get the best use out of their website and email campaigns - as well as other techy things that he is really good at. It may take a little while to get everything up and running, but I am confident that he can serve people well and support our family in this new role. The third venture is that we are going to try to get Rocky Mountain Wacky Warmers fully up and running to sell hats year round on the web and at local Craft Fairs October - December each year.

In my mind - here are the huge benefits to this new found lifestyle
1. Aaron will be home a lot more often to watch our children grow up.
2. Aaron will be free so we can be flexible in where we live each year (more on this later)
3. I get to spend some time each week in the role of OT, which I really enjoy.
4. Back to that where we live thing - we plan to live in Loveland most of the time - however - if this new found career path works out we have a lot more freedom. Our dreams include longer mission trips to support small business in the 3rd world, living in Hawaii a few months out of the year (specifically - the winter months) on an OT contract and longer road trips to see friends and family, being able to spend more time in Glenwood with my parents and other options that are endless!!!

So - here's to 2010 - A new Brown Adventure - trusting God and Following Him as we pursue our God given career paths and dreams!

Thanks for all the support and love through this transition!

Quinoa! Health! and Diet Choices!

So, I know Autumn is still 6 weeks away from 6 months old, but I've started researching how and when and what to introduce as first solids. I've decided that I really do want to wait until at least 6 months and see if she is ready then. I know some doctors say after 4 is okay, but based on a few stories I've heard and the low risk of allergies I figure it doesn't hurt to wait. AAP and WHO recommend waiting until after 6 months. Every baby is different, but this is what I'm comfortable with. From what I've found these are the signs of readiness.

1. Loss of tongue-thrust reflex
2. Ability to let you know she is full from a "meal" with signs such as turning away from the bottle or breast. (which Autumn does not do yet - she still at times still eats until her tummy looks like it is going to burst and then give a big spit up - icky)
3. Ability to sit up and hold head up unassisted
4. Doubling of birth weight
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/readyforsolids.htm

I thought I had decided to do fortified rice cereal as Autumn's first food, however now I'm pretty sure ground red quinoa will be my 1st food of choice. It has more iron than fortified rice cereal, is low allergenic, and is gluten free. I can't wait!
http://www.vegfamily.com/babies-and-toddlers/starting-solids.htm

I know food is a touchy subject and every does it different - but after watching a couple of food documentaries and reading articles - here are the things I want to commit to for my children.

1. Organic unprocessed foods
2. Homemade and not from a jar.
3. A diet with lots whole grain and fresh fruits and vegetables

My own diet -
I feel like I've been a pretty healthy eater my whole life (doing lots of research as a middle schooler and trying to keep up) - however, I have learned a lot in the past 2 years about processing, additives and such that I didn't prioritize before now. Here are some of the changes I am trying to make and commit to. I need to put my money where my mouth is (literally) and start doing my grocery shopping differently. I will point out my weaknesses as I list my priorities.

1. No High Fructose Corn Syrup - this means no Gatorade, no Soda, using organic dressings, BBQ sauce, Ketchup, and many other sauces, many breads, crackers, snacks and other foods also contain HFCS - so lots of label reading!

2. No Artificial Sweeteners - This is a hard one - I like the occasional Diet Soda - but guess I will stop and wait for a fizzy pop with stevia for my occasional indulgence. So for now and for most of the time - lots of water, tea and 100% juice. About 2 1/2 years ago we were introduced to Stevia and use it often - it is now more common and available - but enjoy Sun Crystals (5 calories of cane sugar and stevia - no artificial fillers) or 100% Stevia Drops from the natural food stores. https://www.suncrystals.com/difference/stevia-and-sugar-cane/ http://www.stevia.net/

3. Limiting preservatives -Plan to eat more raw fruits and veggies and limit processed foods. The great thing about raw foods is that they are fast and convenient - banana - peel and eat, Pepper - slice and eat, baby carrots - just eat!!!

4. Very very little fast food. I admit - I like Arby's, the occasional Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich and McDonalds Eggnog shakes. However I really don't want my children to think we get it more than a couple times a year - so that means I will only get it a couple times a year!

5. No trans fat - I changed this habit about a year ago - I kind have a thing against saturated fat, so this was a brain shift for me. Transfat is a horrible thing for our body - so I decided since I don't cook with much fat anyway, having a better fat was good. I now use oil and applesauce or real butter to bake with and oil to cook with (olive oil for baking - not good at high temperatures, canola for skillet cooking) and I buy SmartChoice for Aaron to spread on things like toast and corn. http://www.bantransfats.com/

6. #6 is the change that I'm challenged by - because it is so expensive - organic, locally grown meats. I can buy a bag of chicken at Sams for super cheap - but it isn't telling the huge corporations that I disagree with they way they handle my food, the GMOs, hormones and icky treatment of animals. So this is my next challenge - buying local or organic meats. This is where my pocket book is going to take a hit. So as soon as the meat is eaten out of my home, the challenge begins. The first step might be to reduce the protein in our diet, as we certainly don't need as much as we like. I'm sure I'll have updates on this - I have a lot to learn about how to do this in an affordable fashion! Maybe someday we can live on a shared farm with other families and raise our own chickens and cattle?? (-:

So - there is my health challenge for 2010! God challenges everyone in different areas at different times - so please don't feel like I'm judgmental about these issues - this is just where I'm at right now as I feel like I'm needing to make decisions for our family with children - a new thing! God Bless you for seeking His will for you and attacking the things he has to show and change in you in 2010!

Life is one big adventure!

Well - I write this with great anticipation for great change here at the Brown house! God is pointing us down a path that is a bit scary, a bit amazing and totally exciting. As soon as I can, I will describe these changes in greater detail. For now I just have to praise the Lord for being our strength, guiding us always and challenging us in new ways. Our dreams come true everyday!

Thank you for prayers from those of you who know a bit more about what God has up his sleeve!!!

Kuʻu Haku Malama Pono!!! The Lord makes things right and takes care of us!


On other fronts -
I'm starting work for McKee Medical Center as a Per Diem Occupational Therapist either the 1st or 15th (depending on how quickly they can get my background check done).

I've started working on our 2009 Shutterfly Photo book - hope to be done by Feb 4th to take advantage of the 20% sale. It is fun to look back and remember all the great parts of a great year.

Autumn is changing daily and is such an amazing blessing!!! I'm currently working on getting her down to sleep before mid-night (her currently programmed bed time). Last night she fell asleep a little after 11. Maybe 10:30 tonight!

My sister in law is currently working on a icon for Wacky Warmers and it is going to be completely adorable - I'm so excited!!! And I need to get back into production mode to get ready for next winter!

Cloth Bums - A learning experience

If I were to know then what I know now... I would get

Diapers
24 to 36 Chinese prefolds
6 Small Bummis Super brites
16 Bumgenuis All in ones with Velcro and microfiber inserts
6 Medium Bummis Super brites (which you wouldn't need to get until your first is big enough)
6 Large Bummis Super brites (may not need - if your baby gets big enough)


Accessories -
2 Bummis wet bags
Flushable liners
Safety 1st Easy Saver Diaper Pail
Grandma El's Diaper Cream
Country Save Detergent
Oxy Clean for striping
3 hemp insert doublers for night diapering
10-15 cloth wipes (easy to make from flannel)
Wet Wipes (I tried using only cloth wipes for a while and I prefer to wipe down with cloth and then finish with a wet wipe, I just feel like I can get it cleaner that way)
Regular Washer and Dryer - Not HE (the more water the better for washing diapers!)

4 Months - Keeps getting Sweeter!!

It has been a very busy month little girl. You just keep growing - you have now doubled your birth weight coming in right around 12 pounds. You are mostly wearing 3-6 month clothing, but still fit some 0-3 month jeans and shirts. I am also still using your newborn footie pants - shouldn't all pants have footies for your age, socks sure don't stay on! Your smile is getting bigger and you started giggling! You first busted up laughing at Ella playing fetch on the 26th of December, but now we can get you to giggle when we give you funny looks, play peek-a-boo, tickle you and kiss your neck. You love your daddy very much and like to gaze at him, and now you are playing with his goatee. You like to be held by me and sometimes get upset when I'm not around. You have such a sweet temperament, and are happy most of the time. However, you do voice your opinion at times as well. At certain times you want to be held, don't want be in the car seat or want to stand up. You are starting to take steps when we hold both your hands, can sit up in you bumbo, roll all the way onto your side and almost on to your tummy, lift your head up high when on your tummy and stand on your feet for 20-30 minutes at a time. This month you decided you don't really like a pacifier and much prefer putting your whole hand or 3 fingers in your mouth and sucking. You like to talk a lot but also can be very quiet too. I love your sweet little voice. You've graced both your Nana and Granddad with phone conversation. You are an amazing sleeper. You recorded a record 10 hours in a row the other night and regularly sleep 6-8 in a row. You are a night owl like your momma, never going to bed before 10:30 and usually between 11-12pm. You don't have a strict schedule, but a typical day looks like this:
9am - rise and shine hungry - momma feeds you
9:45-12 - Momma eats breakfast while you play on your mat, we hang out, play, and do chores
12ish you lunch and then momma eats lunch
12-5 you might take a nap or not, some days, like today, you stay awake from 9am to 4pm and then only take a short 1 hour nap. We cook, clean, eat again, play in the exersaucer, do tummy time, run errands, take pictures, see our cousins...
5-6 We make dinner
6 Daddy gets home and we eat dinner
6-10 You play, watch a little TV with daddy, and hang out with us - you enjoy watching what we are doing and checking out everything in a room
10-11 you eat and eat and eat and eat and then sleep until morning



Your first holiday season:

You went to your first Nutcracker and made it the whole show without fussing. You ate and watched and ate some more. Catherine and Rachel were great ballerinas!



We went to the Willm's for Christmas Eve dinner and then went over to Grandma and Papa's until the Christmas Eve service. You sat quietly and ate during the Christmas Eve service while we listened to Jim's nice service about God's love for us in the gift of Jesus. We then went and had desserts at Grandma and Papas.

Christmas morning we woke up around 9, you ate, Momma started bread and potatoes and then we opened gifts. You got an Around the World exersaucer from Nana and Granddad, a cloth Christmas book from Great Grandpa and Grandma, a stocking full of pacifers, rattles and other baby stuff from Santa and a Certificate of Deposit for college from Daddy and Momma.

We then headed over to Uncle Jeremy's for Christmas with the family: Grandma, Papa, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Josh, Ashton, Addy, Uncle Jeremy, Camry, Uncle Dan, Aunt Cindy and Saleem. We ate a delicious meal and then opened gifts. You got a beautiful Autumn Doll, a talking book, a talking purse, and a Best Buy gift certificate. We spent all day there and you cuddled with your Grandma and Aunties.

The day after Christmas you went for your first snowshoeing trip - you were a trooper and then slept much of the way back to the car!


Over Christmas time you met many people for the first time! Uncle Dan, Aunt Cindy, Saleem, Todd, Alissa Kaitlin, Amanda, Olivia, Eric, Mendy, Dustin, Tiegan, Rhonda, Stephen, Shannon, Aunt Laurale, Uncle Dean, Rachel, and Aunt Paige and many others.

For New Years - we went to Nana and Granddads. You had fun showing them your giggle, playing and cuddling.

We saw your Great Grand Parents twice and went to Grand Junction twice to see friends. Olivia loved you and wanted to hold your hand! This trip we also found out that we are glad that cloth diapering works for us because in disposables you blew out and of about 7 diapers - icky icky to clean up! Then we came home to clean up all our holiday fun and Wacky Warmers messes! It was a great first holiday season - you are our little angel!!!!

Happy 4 Months Autumn Keanna!!! We love you!!!!

Autumn's 4 month photo shoot

Free Zoo Days

Less is open - but fun none the less!

2010 Free Days

Tuesday, February 16
Wednesday, October 13
Thursday, October 21
Sunday, November 7
Saturday, November 13