Scolty Hill

Trying to be the adventure loving family that we are, we went on a little walk/hike today. We found a place not far out of Aberdeen that had some hiking trails and decided to try it out. We packed up and off we went.

Connor hung out the side of the backpack pretty much the whole time. If we straightened him, within seconds, he was back to the side. I think it is because he can actually see ahead when he is hanging off to the side.


We had to stop along the way to give Connor some food. He was about to have a serious melt down if we didn't give him some food. Little guy is just like his mommy!


Connor was so tired for most of the walk (aka: cranky), but didn't fall asleep until the end. He looked totally uncomfortable, but I didn't know how to fix that. Plus, I really didn't want to wake him given that we still had some distance to walk...public meltdowns aren't all they are cracked up to be.


Oh, and for good measure, here is a picture of me and Connor...proof that I actually went on the walk too!

She's Crafty

Not, Not, NOT

Using the words "crafty" and "Jessica" in the same sentence should almost be considered illegal. I don't think I have a crafty bone in my body. Grand ideas, yes. Craftiness, no...which is ironic given how crafty my mom is. Anyway, a while back I picked up a dust ruffle that matched Connor's crib set on clearance. I had grand plans for that dust ruffle...the first of which, I am about to show you. I thought I would make a flag-banner of sorts with Connor's name on it. Sounds easy enough, right?

My first attempt was to use iron on printer paper. I would print out Connor's name and iron it on to the flags. I am a genius! Yeah, that didn't work. You could only see the blue lettering I chose on the white dots.


So, to the craft store I went. I had another idea. I would buy blue material and cut it into letters and somehow get it to stick to the material. Well, at the craft store, I discovered this iron on stuff that allows two materials to iron on to it...all of you crafty people out there are probably going, duh Jessica! I also acquired some blue fabric.

Now I had options. I could make the flags blue or polka dotted. I could do every other. After a phone conversation with my mom, I decided on blue flags with dotted letters. So away I went making my dotted letters. I ironed them on to the flags and they looked great. I was so proud of my un-crafty self. Then, when it came time to attach the flags to the rope, my plan fell apart. While ironing the flags around the rope, the letters began to fall off. Then I tried to super glue them back on...to which I discovered two things about super glue:

1. it shows thru fabric
2. if you use paper to press on the fabric, it sticks


Now I was beginning to loose hope in my wonderful idea. It was starting to seem too hard. Then, my mom suggested that I attach the flags to the rope first, then iron on the letters. That woman is a genius I tell you! I did that and voila, finally something I can be proud of (or at least not ashamed of)!


I have to admit, I am trying to not handle it too much as I am afraid it will fall apart!

***The title of this blog makes me think of a certain Beastie Boys song, but given that the song has nothing to do with the blog post, I thought I wouldn't mention it. But, I couldn't help myself! I had to point it out!

Aww, Sunshine

I have decided that I would be perfectly content living somewhere that is 66 degrees and sunny every day. I am not a "seasons" gal. Summer and sunshine year round is fine by me. There used to be a time, not so long ago, that 66 degrees was freezing to me. Now-a-days, it is the perfect temp!


Connor and I were able to enjoy our breakfast outside yesterday morning. He was definitely distracted by all that was going on. And, he kept picking flowers and trying to eat them. Then we met a friend at the park, had some ice cream, strolled around and enjoyed the company.

Oh, and today it 55 degrees and pouring down rain.

Faith, Part 2

****This is my second entry in an unplanned series on faith. If you want to read the first entry, have at it***

I feel like I am on a journey, a journey discovering what faith means to me and a journey of having that small seed of faith inside me grow. Being raised in a Christian home, I took advantage of faith. It was something that was always there. But now, as an adult, I am having to discover what faith really means and how it applies to my life.

I have struggled for a while now with exactly what faith means. It is kind of an elusive thing to me. Kind of like a feeling. How do I act out a feeling? Well, when I came across something referring to faith as trust, a light clicked on for me. That just made sense. Having trust in God I could totally understand. Now learning to trust God for everything is the journey I am on.

I am an independent person. I am the person that says God gave us brains to figure out things on our own. I am the person that prays if it is your will. I am done with that...well trying to be.

Reading the bible, Jesus says over and over, your faith has made you well. I want that faith. I want the faith that makes me well, the faith that moves mountains. I know I can get it. My heart wants it. It is just figuring out how to get my head there. Figuring out how to trust in God and rely on him for everything. That is pretty big when you think about it.

I have been following this blog about a pastor's daughter in Southern California with cancer. After being declared cancer free in May, they found a tumor in her a week ago. An you know what scripture the dad puts on his blog? Job 1:20-22

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, ”Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

That is the kind of faith I want. The kind of faith that puts my (and my family's) life in his hands. The kind of faith that completely knows that God is in charge. The kind of faith that is unwavering. The kind of faith that moves mountains. I know it can happen.

It all begins with trust...

Summer Fashion Week - Sunday

What is about to become extremely clear to all of you is that I live in a much different weather climate than most of you. Our average summer high over here in Scotland is 64 degrees. And it is more like us having a bunch of rainy days with a high in the 50's, then a couple sunny days that may hit 70...if we are lucky. Thus, dressing for the summer can be different, which is evident given that I am wearing a sweater today!

Sweater: Hollister
Tanktop: Michael Stars
Jeans: Seven
Shoes: Converse
Jewelry: Don't know/remember with either the necklace or bracelet

It was great playing along with all of you this week. Thanks for all the wonderful comments. I am sure there are some of you that I will now be blog stalking following your blog/life musings for my personal enjoyment.

Summer Fashion Week - Saturday

Happy Saturday to you all!!! Anyone up to anything fun this weekend? We are having some friends over for a BBQ...hopefully the rain will hold off long enough for us to enjoy some of the BBQ outside!

Dress: Superdry

(another Scottish brand...that oddly enough masks itself as something Japanese)
Leggings: Gap
Shoes: Urban Outfitters

I feel like I need to make a couple disclaimers about my outfit today. First, it is Saturday, thus the husband was home to take my picture. And for some reason, I decided I needed to get a little active during the photo shoot! But about the clothes, sorry about the bra straps hanging out. I just didn't feel up to sporting a strapless bra ALL DAY LONG! I guess fashion has to suffer. And secondly, about the smack-you-in-the-face clevage in every picture, I am still breastfeeding my little man. I can't help the clevage!

8 Months

Weight: 17lbs, 11oz

Accomplishments:
2 cut teeth (both on the bottom)
Crawling
Sleeping on his stomach
Extremely observant...finds the smallest things on the floor!
Taking steps, with someone holding him up

Connor has had a lot going on in the past month and most of it seemed to happen within a week of each other. In the past week, Connor has started to crawl and has had two teeth pop thru on the bottom. The whole teething thing made him into one unhappy camper, and a huge Mama's boy!

Connor has also now mastered the art of sleeping on his stomach. And, no matter where you put him in his crib, he always crawls to the same end, pulls down the bumper and uses it as a pillow. It is really cute! With the whole teething saga, we have had some pretty rough nights, but he seems to be doing better now. Last night he slept 13 hours! If only every night were that easy!

One of my favorite things about Connor are his facial expressions. Seriously, the kid is a hoot! And when he smiles, it melts my heart. I love that kid!