GOODBYE DIRECTV !!!

So we did it! We have turned off our Directv. We made the decision last week trying to find ways to cut costs. I have been feeling like TV is a wasted cost anyways and I don't actually watch that much TV as it is. Sports are important to Chad and Charli watches Noggin and Nick Jr., but she has a million movies. I on the other hand if I am lucky, sneak in a viewing of Jon and Kate + 8 but that is about it, if the TV is available. Chad was a bit reluctant at first but he gave in pretty quickly when he learned he can either listen to Giant's games on the radio or online. Charli has actually been enjoying watching her movies. As a result I have noticed that the TV is on less in this house and I think we are actually surviving no TV and really enjoying ourselves more. Chad and I have gotten into a routine of watching a show on DVD when we get in bed at night. So it is all working out. DVR, HD channels and recorded shows were a nice luxury but they are not needed. We will survive.

RORY PICTURES

Here she is, she really is beautiful even with all her tubes and attachments. I never got to see her hair but I am told she has lots of black hair. Erin got to hold her for the first time last night and she said it was so great and really nice to be able to do that. Erin is up and around today and feeling so much better than yesterday. Rory seems to be doing really well also.

RORY MAE JOHNSON !!!

So I don't have any pictures yet, but my brother and his wife, Erin had their first little girl today!!! Rory Mae Johnson was born today in Chico at Enloe. I haven't seen or met her yet but I hear that Erin is recovering well given she had a C-section and that Rory, acording to my mom is PERFECT with lots of black hair. She weighed 3 lbs 2 oz. She has got to be so tiny!!! Erin was due towards the end of June so this little baby bean was still cooking inside. I can't wait to see this new family and this sweet little bundle. I guess Rory will stay in the hospital for about 6 weeks. My mom said she is breathing fine, so that is great news. If you are the praying type maybe think of Kellen, Erin and Rory in your prayers. Once I get some pictures I will for sure post some.

CHARLI'S FIRST HAIR CUT!!!!

Charli chose to sit in the Thomas chair for her hair cut
Here we go, there is no turning back now!!!
The hair cut!!!
Charli got to pick out some clips for her hair
My sweet girl with her new hair style.

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We ventured out yesterday after Mother's Day activities and got haircuts

The Winebarger girls need cuts as well and Micky and I decided that would most likely be good for Charli so that she would see that it is not scary and hopefully get a cut herself. Well it seemed to work and Cool Kid Cutz was so good and the ladies that cut their hair were so nice and good with all the girls. We will be going back in the future. Charli's hair is now a little below her shoulders and it flips up a little. It is so cute and it makes her look like a little girl and not my baby anymore. Boo Hoo...

I think it is going to be easier all around and help with the battles of brushing tangles and all that. My only concern is if I will be able to get it up in a bun for ballet. We shall see. I have to remind myself that it is just hair and it will grow back. Overall Charli looks great and it is a nice change, for the upcoming summer!

MOTHER'S DAY

Charli, James and Owen planted flowers for gifts for Mother's Day

I had Charli plant two and she gave them to her Grandma's.

Chad, Kristin, Emily, Bama, Charli, Erin (expecting baby Rory), Kellen.

We celebrated Mother's day at my mom's for brunch.

everyone seemed to have a great time and we had great food

COMPUTER CLEANSING * POTTY TRAINED * FAMILY UPDATE

So this last week our computer decided to take a vacation on Saturday. Chad just got it back up and running last night. I am so happy to not be cleansing my system of no computer. The other day I stood over my laptop and yelled " I really need to check my email, I need you to work!" then I got over my frustration and decided I was computer cleansing. I will admite that I got a lot more things done without the computer. So overall it was a good and bad thing.

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As of 4 weeks ago, Charli is potty trained!!! I am a big believer that children will do it on their own terms. And she did!!! I knew she was getting close and I had confidence that it would just happen one day, and it did. As far as pooping, that is a different story. For the most part she will poop in her panties or her pull up, but she is very aware that she needs to go. She just won't sit long enough on the potty. So we are getting there and my experience with other children is that it can take a while understanding the whole pooping thing. Otherwise we are all so proud of her and she is of herself!!! As a result of becoming potty trained, I am planning to enroll her in a preschool class this summer through the Rec center. James took this class last summer and just loved it. It is a two day a week class for about 2 hours a time. Charli has never been in an evironment where I drop her off, so I think and am trying to stay hopeful that it will go well for her and I. She will be with James, her true buddy so I think it will be a great experience for her.

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Now for the family update: Chad and I went on a date last Friday and got to talking about our future adoption of our future child. All along we have planned to adopt from China, but this last year some things have been coming up for us to make us doubt the China adoption. So we started talking on our date about what other options we have. For some reason i just dawned on me that we should explore Fost-adopt. After doing a bit of research this last week we have decided that is the absolute best option for our family! We are planning to start the process right away. We have to become qualified as Foster Parents and that process is about 6 months. From there you wait to be matched with a child. The child has to be in your foster care for 6 months before they are able to be adopted. So we are very excited and I am hopeful we will be on our way to add to our family within this next year. If we took the China route we would have adopted a girl, 95% of orphans over there are female. So you pretty much plan on adopting a girl. With this new plan we are considering a boy. Actually Chad really wants a boy! I on the other hand think we need to be open to a girl or a boy and see what is best for our family. We are very excited and can't wait to give Charli a future brother or sister. I am having a hard time imagining another little one in our house and that my heart will be able to love two children. I know it is possible, I have many friends around me with multiple children. For me it always takes time to sink in when I am entering a new journey in my life. I also have been trying to remind myself that God has a plan for me and it will all work out for the best. I have been praying a lot lately.

THE WISHING WELL

So I have been crazy busy lately and I have decided that there are not enough hours in the day to actually accomplish what it is that I need to get done!!! But this picture is just too good to not share! Last night before Charli got in the bath, I turned around and she was looking into the toilet and singing. I proceeded to ask her what she was doing and she told me she was singing into the wishing well, just like Snow White does. I couldn't contain myself and just started laughing. I think this is a picture that I will be pulling out in about 18 yrs when she has had too much to drink on her 21st birthday. I will ask her "So did you sing into the wishing well?"

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On another note, I have been sewing away like a mad woman trying to stock up in my Charli'z products, preparing for the Green Baby Expo, June 21st in Chico.

I have never cut, pinned, sewed, re pinned, ironed so many products in my life.

It is all good and when I am done I will be so stocked up like never before.

I am really looking forward to the day when I have enough products that I can stock my Etsy store, Made in Chico, have Green Baby Expo products and also some on hand for gifts or surprise purchases. It will be so nice and I will have a margarita to congratulate myself.