Anyone still reading this?

So I just realized that it has been since last MAY that I've updated this blog... Yeah I'm pretty much a blogging slacker ;). I think I just got burned out. I'm just curious if anyone still follows this and would like me to start updating it again...
Also thoughts on if I made this private so you had to be logged in to see it - would you still want to read it? Please comment and let me know!

When I said, "Sure I'll do it!" and didn't know what I was getting myself into...

So last month I agreed to meet with a soon to be married couple and discuss making them a wedding cake (due to a medical complication the person that was originally going to make their cake, couldn't). My mom knew them and use to help advocate for the soon to be groom. They both have disabilities and have a limited income so I agreed to help them have a good wedding by saying I'd make the cake... (Because everyone should have a cake if they want one!) 

Their colors were neon/florescent shades of green, pink and orange. I REFUSE to make a florescent cake. Just sayin. But they were having a midevil theme so I proposed doing a castle cake... You know because it fit the theme and I could do florescent flags to fit the colors but not try to make florescent frosting! 

So, can I mention that I NOW know why wedding cakes are so EXPENSIVE!?! I seriously spent around $200 on supplies for this cake (of course it would have been a bit cheaper if I would have made instead of bought fondant - but there was something to be said for my sanity!) Then there was the time that I put into it... I decided that making wedding cakes is something that I should not do until AFTER my children are in school. Unless I really, really love you - then I may consider making a wedding cake for you before then. Oh, Daniel also said that if someone was willing to pay $1,000 for a cake I could do it again. Oh and I have to say that if someone I knew was really in need of a cake, I'm willing to do one like this. Because apparently I'm not such a good mommy or wife while I'm making a cake... or even really good at making sure I'm eating...

So here's the cake after assembly:

9 Months

Marc just turned 9 months at the end of April. I figured since I'm months behind, I should start with the most recent photos first so you all can see what he looks like now instead of 3 months ago! 

 At his 9 month appointment he was 17 lbs and 14 oz,  and 27 inches. He lost weight during the month of April as he had been sick pretty much every weekend! The first Sunday he had a stomach bug and on Monday I called the doctors office to see what we should do and then he stopped vomiting. Then he had an ear infection the next weekend and we took him to urgent care on Friday (his dr was out of the office) then again on Saturday because the medicine he was on made him throw up! 

I also got some fun things in April that I used to take these pictures: 

 

At 9 months, Marc is crawling like a pro (has been crawling since 7.5 months) and he's also pulling himself up to standing as well as standing while being supported.)

 A wireless shutter release. Which means I can help the kiddos stay in place until a second before I take the picture!

 And a tripod. So with the two of them, I decided to try to take some group shots... with me!

 Of course I realized that I need to do better at posing and taking the picture too!

 

5 Month Pictures

These are the pictures we took of Marc around when he was 5 months old (a few days early.) And we didn't get the cute elephant in these pictures either, but oh well - look how handsome he looks! 

 At 5 months Marc was sitting up. He'd fall occasionally, especially when helped by someone we won't mention ;).

 December was also the first month we didn't have to take him to the doctor! YEY!

So we took those pictures right after we took some of these:

I gave all my guys matching ties for Christmas. (They opened them on the Sunday before Christmas though.)

4 Months

At 4 months Marc was 13 lbs 12 oz and 25 inches long. He'd gained enough weight that they didn't reschedule at 5 months, but we can wait until 6! Yey for finally figuring out he needed a bottle at around the 7 PM feeding. When he was born he was about the 25th percentile, and he dropped all the way down to between the 5th and 10th at around 3 months. We're happy he's getting back up to the 25th now!

 He's growing great now! (And this is 2 months behind where we are, but I'm getting closer ;). Now all I have to do is post pictures of what we were doing those months (including some cute ones of Eric!)

3 Months

I'm still playing catch-up... Here's Marc at 3 months (taken on 10/29/12):

Marc is such a smiley baby, it's great to be able to see his smile every day! He loves being around people and is most happy when being held and played with. If we leave him alone for too long (20 minutes or less at 3 months!), he lets us know! He had still not gained quite enough weight at his 2 month appointment so we went in at 3 months as well... but a week or two before that we'd started giving him formula at one feeding in the evening as he was being overly fussy at that point and acting like he wasn't getting enough to eat! At the 3 month appointment he was getting to where they wanted him to be, so we will keep supplementing him. I would have to say it was the most convenient feeding to supplement since it's usually when I get dinner ready ;).

Feeling the need to write

I feel the need to write about a specific topic today (and I will be getting back to updating pictures and what's going on in our lives lately soon) and don't worry it isn't a depressing topic or anything that serious ;). Just something I've been introduced to and come to really love!

What I want to write about it Essential Oils. Crazy, I know. I was introduced to a newer company that has really high quality essential oils a few months ago. We started using them cautiously and have actually found that they work wonderfully. For example: They have a blend that we use on Eric that helps his irregularity (which we had been using grape juice for) and all we use is 1-2 drops per day (when we use them.) Daniel has used the immunity blend when he felt he was getting sick and for a couple of days he just felt like he was going to get sick but it never materialized. I've used them for mood enhancement (because sometimes my 'happy pills' just don't completely cut it - I can't wait until the postpartum depression goes away and I don't envy people who have to deal with this their whole lives - I admire you all!) My little sister has used their breathe blend and it has helped her not be as congested. My mom does notice a difference in how Val's doing when she uses it vs. not. Oh and I also found out that one of the oils does a great job at removing sharpie marker from an almost 4 year old's skin. 

I personally love using these oils as they are natural. The company actually has a university (either U of U or Harvard) do tests on each batch to make sure they are pure and contain chemicals or contaminants. The only down side is that it's a multi-level marketing company... I'm not the hugest fan of them, but I would have to say that with the results we've had from using the oils I really wanted to let you all know about them. If you would like to try them I did sign up to get them at wholesale and would let any of you who are interested have them at cost (25% less than retail).

If you have any questions, feel free to ask (I would be willing to send a small sample of an oil if you would like to try it). After all I was hesitant to try them as well! I also want to say I'm not trying to make money off of this (or I wouldn't offer them at wholesale) - I just felt like sharing because we like using them! (and have found they help.) If you want to see what oils there are - you can find them here. Also if you want to see how they help a specific condition - check it out here (I must warn you that this site references one of the doctors on the company's board a lot and people seem to absolutely adore him, I usually ignore that part of the comments...)