tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44599990689303705362024-03-13T20:35:15.948-07:00All Things Made NewMeg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-79754706945149909092013-06-14T14:55:00.002-07:002013-06-16T14:55:27.811-07:00Daddy Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Father's day to my wonderful hubby Chris! I love how great you are with Casey nurturing the sides of him that I can't like throwing him up in the air and helping him take manly risks! I can't wait for you to meet your daughter, I know your heart is just going to melt. I know she will find a compassionate comforter and a patient listening ear in you because are that for me. I love you sweetie!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-86466451578458464022013-06-14T10:54:00.001-07:002013-06-14T10:54:46.661-07:00The Other Half<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently posted pictures of Camille's side of the room and promised to post Casey's side once I was done. My mom made this beautiful baseball quilt for his little bed and it turned out so great! His bed is from Ikea and we love it because it's close to the ground but also has the bars on the side so he can get in and out with ease but not roll off at night. However unless you like the strange bedding that Ikea offers for this bed you have to find a way to have your bedding customized, because it's wider than a crib mattress could fit and not as wide or as long as a twin. So I am blessed to have both a mother-in-law and a mom who can sew!<br />
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Casey boy just turned 2 in May and he is a very fun little toddler! Right now we're working on developing his language and he is using new words every day. Some times I feel like he's behind a little bit with it but every one develops differently and I feel like it's always positive when I can see that progress is being made! It's so fun as a parent to watch your child develop as an individual! Right now he spends probably equal parts of the day being energetic and crazy running all over the house and yelling words I do not understand, he's very dramatic in his play, and then being quiet and calm playing by himself or wanting to be cuddled. Honestly I enjoy both sides, it's fun to see him imagining and playing even if it gets loud. Discipline is still something we are working out. I'm pretty fortunate that he doesn't like being in trouble so one time-out a day usually reminds him that he has to chill out on some things. But I know this is just the beginning of the "terrible-twos" so although we have chosen not to spank I know that I'm going to have to get creative but always stay consistent.<br />
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I'm looking forward to watching Casey become a big brother in just a few weeks. I felt even as a baby that Casey possessed the kind of sweetness my brother has and that he'd be a great big brother for a girl. I used to jump on top of my sleeping brother on Saturday mornings and wake him up to watch cartoons with me by opening his eyelids, so unintentionally terrible of me, but he was very good-natured with me. For a while I was nervous about having two kids and how I'm going to deal with it. But I am trying to find peace and comfort in the Lord and just telling myself that my children will adjust to each other and we will all be learning together. I don't feel like last time I was very easy on myself, I think that fed into my anxiety. This time I am going to take it day by day and try and remind myself that everything is going to work themselves out. <br />
Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-35214470488718844702013-06-12T11:01:00.000-07:002013-06-12T11:01:09.992-07:00Thoughts on Cooking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Growing up my dad was the one who prepared the meals. My mom is a nurse and when we were little she worked a lot of night shifts and it fell to my dad to feed us kids. He did a good job but mostly I can recall pretty basic meals. I don't think anyone ever taught my mom to cook like some families do, I think my dad was taught a little bit by his mom...but that teaching how to cook was not passed on to me. I didn't care, I had no interest really in cooking until college.<br />
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As I've mentioned before I was an art major being raked over the coals for not being "good enough" so I turned my creative forces in a different direction. I started to learn to cook. How wonderful cooking is for creativity! What is similar about cooking and making art is that you take a little bit of knowledge and then you essentially take a leap of faith that your knowledge as skill will be there. It's exciting sometimes when I am drawing I am making decisions with my hands as I am moving them, something unplanned is always happening, it's a thrilling feeling. Freedom! <br />
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When you draw for example, you need to have knowledge about how to go about carving an image into or out of the paper. Part of this is natural skill and part of it is watching teachers and learning how they go about it and trying to do the same. I would describe this knowledge as pretty vague, hard to put into words probably because it stems from the right (non-verbal) side of the brain. In cooking you need to have knowledge of what flavors go together along with technique. I learned all this through the miracle of the Food Network. I soaked up everything I could, the new revelation about putting salt in the water you plan to boil your pasta in...so simple but I knew nothing!<br />
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For the past few months I have committed to making every dinner at home. That means meal planning and everything! Not letting ourselves go out is forcing me to grow as a home cook. And the joy and the thrill I got from art is coming out full force. Last night I just winged a meal purely from a picture I saw, crossing my fingers that all the flavors would come together, with out any instruction, and it did and it felt awesome!<br />
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The best part of this whole thing is that my son is always around when I am cooking. And even though he's only 2 he loves to help, smell everything and put things in the pan. I love that I'll have something to pass on to him. What a gift something like cooking can be!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-66790854703416342552013-06-03T11:07:00.000-07:002013-06-03T11:09:18.163-07:00Camille's Room<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't blogged in so long some of you might not know that the Fletcher family is growing! We are expecting a little girl due July 11th. But I hope she comes sooner because it's hot and I'm ginormous and she is a dancing fool pretty much all the time that she is awake! Last time I was preggo I did not have that nesting feeling. People would talk about how obsessive I'd become about cleaning and getting everything ready. But at the time we knew we were going to move almost right after Casey was born so if I had the feeling to nest I just ignored it and the desire to clean didn't really come. With this baby though I am nesting full force! It goes beyond getting things ready for her...I am like literally excited to clean. I'm cleaning everything and then like the other day I looked down and saw that my blanket was machine washable and I was like "Ooo I'm going to clean it!" This is beyond crazy for me, but I like it.<br />
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This weekend we got Camille's half of the room ready for her. I hope to post pic's of the kids shared room soon but I'm not done with Casey's side yet, which will be a baseball theme. I just loved the way it turned out! I got those old hankies at an antique store back I think when Chris and I were just barely married and I told the lady what I was going to do with them. I said I was going to hang them up over my baby girl crib if I ever have a girl. And she was like you'll probably only have boys then. Don't you just love people like that? Boo. Anyways I am proud of her room!<br />
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I've been getting a lot of comments on how unusual the name we picked for her is. I know Camille isn't very popular but that's what I like about it. My name is Megan and my husbands name is Chris. I had at least 2 Megan's in my class all growing up, and everyone knows how common Chris is. We always had to be known by our last name's initial. I hated it. So I wanted both my kids to have familiar yet different names. Also I never expected my husband would even like the name Camille. We had kind of settled on Alice for her but I just didn't LOVE it. So wrote out a list of names and put in Camille because I'd been watching a British show and there was a girl on there named Camilla and I liked that but I like the french version of the name better. So I slipped that name in and he liked it best! I really couldn't believe it! But we both love it. Camille means perfect and her middle name is my sister's middle name, Claire which means pure. I would love for her to have a pure heart! I just love name meanings especially when the child matches the meaning! Casey means brave, and boy he is very brave, willing to do anything and take any risk. It's very fun! I can't wait to meet her!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-90056975726725686612013-05-31T13:52:00.001-07:002013-05-31T13:52:34.980-07:00What does that mean?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently I started watching "So You Think You Can Dance." A show I haven't watched for years, some because my husband doesn't care for it, and some because I just never caught it enough to care about the contestants. But I used to love it and as I was watching I remembered why I loved it. I loved it because they are a group of artists and I love and understand their desire to take a feeling on the inside and express it on the out side. I wouldn't say I'm "an artist," even though I have a bachelor's degree in it, because if I learned anything from school I learned I'm not good enough (whatever that means) to call myself that but I do have that artistic personality and relate to these performers. As I'm watching these kids create I become super sad that I've been ignoring that side of myself for years now. I never create, unless creating a human being counts, cause I've done that :)<br />
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I graduated from college super happy to be <i>done</i>. Because although I love learning so much, I hated being a part of a major that was so incredibly rigid. The message of my art teachers was "do it like this or don't do it." And I basically spent that whole time trying to fit my square peg into their round hole. Doesn't that sound totally backward for art, something most people would call vague and hard to define. Well let me tell you someone has a definition, they didn't tell me what exactly it was but just that I didn't have it. So I put it all away. I didn't touch it, I didn't look at it, and I surely did not display it. Things that I loved became my shame. And the kicker is, is that I worked my way through school, paying for...this. ha ha. But I moved on. Around this time I got engaged and my mind and heart was filled with new dreams and hopes. I didn't miss it. <br />
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Once I was married I had a new identity. I was now a wife, which meant that my mindset was on my hubby and taking care of him and being a good partner. And I also was slapped with a new label "pastor's wife." Yikes what does that even mean, I still don't know, but again one thing I was sure of was I wasn't doing that right either. My hubby and I knew nothing. We were at a small close knit church and we went into it like little babies. The head Pastor was not a good mentor because he basically encouraged us to be like he and his wife, co-leaders, partners, every thing my hubby and I should not be, but we had no clue there was any other way. Don't get me wrong my hubby and I love each other, we just are not meant to be co-leaders. I love supporting him but being out of the spot light. And I love being involved in my own things. It was terrible for us. We fought every Wednesday on the way to Wednesday night youth group. We'd be yelling, open our doors, get out and say "Hey!" with big old fake smiles. It was an icky point in our super young marriage. During this time I lost a baby my husband had scary health issues, and all the while we were encouraged by our "mentor" to do the job, complete the task, preform our duties as Pastor and Pastor's Wife. So hard, I don't even know how we came out of that! Yes I do, God!<br />
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Ah well life moved on as we quickly realized that even though we were forming bonds with the families of that church it was not a good fit for us. Then we decided to move to the bay area for the first time and become live on campus seminary people. Whatever that means, again I don't know but we always felt very isolated, mostly because no one else had any experience in ministry and we just had a terrible one. It was hard for us not to be bitter at that time or at least cynical. But this was also the time when I became something I've always wanted to be, a mother! Oh how I loved it, and still love it. I am obsessed with him! The more I get to know him the more I like that little man of mine. But even as happy as I was I still feel like I am missing something. I miss myself. <br />
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As a mom we devote ourselves almost entirely to others. Even if you're not working (as I am not) your entire day revolves around taking care of others. It's so easy to not do anything for yourself. I think that is a struggle for most mom's. I know that my sisters and I talk about not showering very much because we are too tired to care about it. It's a good thing because we are focusing on what really matters but it's a bad thing if like me, you don't do anything for yourself. I fantasize about what I will do with myself when my kids are in school. I love that my son is a little older and I can entertain ideas of things that are just for me. I crave the time when I can rediscover and define my identity beyond wife and mother. Why can't I do this now...I'm just too tired. Babies are a lot of work and I'm afraid I don't have as much energy as other moms do. Right now I have to choose to take care of them to the best of my ability over my artistic side. One day though. One day :)<br />
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Do you ever feel like you have a label on you, that you just don't quite understand yet? This could very well just be me, maybe not though... Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-80524512786847173022013-05-30T12:14:00.000-07:002013-05-30T12:14:57.590-07:00A Letter to the Taylor Swift Generation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear Sisters,<br />
When I think of Taylor Swift I think that she is beautiful, talented, passionate about women, and an influential figure in the lives of girls in the teens and twenty-somethings. When I was in college she was just emerging on to the music scene with some sad songs dealing with break-ups and some really sweet and happy songs about being in love. As I watched her career evolve I have seen her shift from the hope of a fairytale romance to writing a songs dedicated to a nameless ex-boyfriend who did her wrong and at first I enjoyed with glee as I too have wished to rip and ex apart in such a public way. But the more she went on to write a song about yet another ill-fated romance the more I started to cringe.<br />
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I started seriously dating at 21, which is really late by most standards. But I was pretty shy and a bit of a late bloomer so it took me that long to feel confident enough to put myself out there. Also as a Christian girl I felt very aware of the fact that in order to maintain my purity while dating I needed to be strong in myself before entering such a confusing and emotionally charged stage of life. I found my husband by the end of my 23rd year, but I crammed a lot in those years. One thing I can say as I look back on those years is that I was Taylor. Every time one of my dating relationships ended I didn't write a "pay-back" song but I did verbally eviscerate every one of them. Tearing these guys to shreds believing myself to be justified because they had "done me wrong" in some way. I was really proud of myself too, no I wasn't making millions with my fiery words, but it felt good that I could just say whatever I wanted and never have to see them again. <br />
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Taylor Swift said in an interview with 60 Minuets that she believes she is responsible for "raising the next generation" through her music. Which don't get me wrong much of her music is positive and lovely. But I have a problem with these "revenge" songs. My problem is how being like this makes you feel later. Years later. I look back on all the conversations I used to be so proud of and I am so ashamed and dissapointed with myself. Because those bad habits have made their way into my marriage. When my husband and I have an argument my vicious tongue comes out and I can say some hurtful things. The problem with that is that I love my husband and it's not like I'm not going to see him ever again, I live with him!<br />
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What I wish I would have done when I was dating is be graceful. Not in like a good coordination kind of way but in offering that person a forgiving hand. (Or in the very least kept my mouth shut!) Because dating is what it is, you get hurt and you also hurt others too, not matter how hard you try not to, it's the risk you take when you're looking for love. However, you hurt and get hurt when you're married too. It's not like that goes away! And there is always going to be an opportunity to handle being hurt by slicing down your spouse or handle your hurt with grace. I will tell you that giving grace feels so much better and eviscerating leaves you both hurting later. <br />
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As I prepare to have a daughter in just a few weeks I know that I am responsible for guiding her as best I can to be a beautiful person on the inside out. I just want her to learn from my mistakes and forgive and offer grace all the time. We all need to be forgiven, we all need understanding from others because we are all constantly making mistakes. Girls, dating is hard. I get that. I know what it is to be cry like a baby in your mom's arms at 21 years old. But for your own well being and for the health of your future relationships, don't be like me, have your cry but hold your tongue and give grace instead of a biting word. Hugs to all! Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-13551747187327251342012-05-23T18:31:00.002-07:002012-05-23T18:31:15.383-07:00Our Schedule<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: this post is not an advice column...not at all. This is purely for fun.</span></div>
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5:45 am. yep. He's up. Why is he up you ask? Well I'll tell you it has something to do with the sun being up. He is an early bird...just like, well, me. Although rising with the sun is carrying it a bit too far son. I let Casey babble until 6 unless he's really yelling, which he does sometimes. There's no need for everyone to be up this early. <br />
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6 am-ish I turn on Disney Jr. and he watches for a while but mostly he plays. I am on the couch resting, watching. Many days he wants to sit in my lap for a certain show he likes, and I like too I guess, it's not the worst. <br />
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7:30 am I make breakfast for him. Usually it's scrambled eggs, and a sippy-cup of milk. Unless my kitchen is messy and I go for a quick meal of oatmeal and milk of course. After this he plays.<br />
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8:15 As some children are just getting up mine is taking his first nap. I usually take this time to catch up on my reality tv. (Bravo's calling my name) Or I read blogs check out the "Home Decor" section on pinterest. My hubby is usually not awake yet, because he doesn't work till late morning, so it's a little me time.<br />
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9:45 Casey wakes up. My husband is awake by this time and always goes in to get him saying "Good Morning!" As if the day was just beginning... nope. Then Casey and I go for a walk. We have a park near us so I turn on some Pandora on my iphone and we get to it.<br />
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10:50 we finish our walk and I get Casey's lunch ready. And usually he'll play/watch sesame street at 11. Meals are always different and a challenge at this point. I'm trying to get him to eat different things so I'll do cheese and shredded chicken with apple sauce. Or I try PB&J which he doesn't like too much. I don't know it's hard. I know I have to keep things he likes out of eye shot because he won't eat anything else if he know something he likes is coming.<br />
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Noon Unless we're out and about, which sometimes we are depending on my husband schedule, (which is very flexible), Casey takes a nap at this time. I know it sounds crazy but that's the way he likes it.<br />
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1:00 pm He's up again. This is the hardest time of the day because it's a matter of keeping him going until 5 pm. So At first he plays and I always try and move his toys in and out and all around. For example, I can block off our living room so I try to keep rotating toys out, like if he has lost interest in something I take it and put it in his room. Then I just set up some things I know he likes to play with, and things he hasn't seen in a while. It buys me time. It's so hot here, going out at this time isn't really an option, also we live in an apartment, so we don't have a yard anyways. I will turn on music while I'm doing something and put him in his eating chair to watch me. I give him something he hasn't seen in a while to keep him busy. We read, we build, we roll, he climbs. We wear each other out. There is also a little snack in here too. Goldfish, cheerios, raisins, or apple sauce.<br />
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5 pm aw the magic hour. I like 5 pm. I get Casey's dinner ready. It's always different. Roasted carrots, or beans, or scrambled eggs. Always something accompanied by fruit. And then I get him ready for bed. All the sudden it sounds great right, because hopefully by this time you've forgotten about the 5:45 am wake up call. So I don't give Casey a bath every night because he started to hate them a couple months ago (sad) so like tonight I just got him in a new diaper and jams. Wrestle him to brush his teeth, get his blankie and gather some books to read with him on the couch. After that I put him down. I hold him and sing to him till he goes to sleep...I try to have him down around 6 pm. Sometimes it's sooner, like today because we did not go out so his nap was at noon instead of like 1 or 2. If he takes a later nap I adjust a little bit, but usually he goes down before 6:30pm. <br />
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6pm This is when I feel good about waking up early, because I have some me time before my hubby gets home from work, and once he does there's dinner and time with him. Nice. Phew.Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-65890139900911216952012-05-21T20:48:00.000-07:002012-05-21T20:49:24.423-07:00I'm getting the feeling that...I'm getting the feeling that I will forever have this "I don't know what in the world I'm doing," feeling being a parent. Uh-oh, it doesn't go away. When Casey was first born everything was new...and I was so inexperienced every day was a new thing, a new challenge, phase of development etc. I think I felt that someday it'll get better, I'm going to figure this whole thing out. But as quickly as you've got a groove going something changes.<br />
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Today, for example...I'm learning how smart he is. I said "we've gotta change your diaper," and Casey quickly grabs his changing mat and his wipes and brings them to me. What?! That's awesome. But he now hates the car again. He's so stinking strong he kept dodging the straps as I'm trying to get his situated. And then now he's refusing food, I don't think eating only scrambled eggs and gold fish cuts it. Also today he was relentlessly trying to get into the trash can, something I know <i>he knows</i> not to do (I know he's doing it when he's quiet). All things change at once, and we have a whole new ball game. And it's going to be like this forever, maybe the phases won't move as quickly as I do now, but I can see myself when he's 16 just doing what I do now, praying and trying my best to do what is right.<br />
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Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-212986090103881992012-05-09T14:21:00.000-07:002012-05-09T17:57:53.954-07:00Happy Happy Birthday Baby!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Casey boy you are one year old! I can't believe how fast the time has gone...and what a joy you have brought into my life! I love you more than words can express so that's why I kiss you so much! Here is what I know about you so far...<br />
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Dear little boy, you are so sweet and cute! Everyone likes to compliment your good looks! Somehow you've realized your handsome qualities and have become a little flirt with the ladies...and you don't discriminate based on age either. You really like to share and be involved with others. You are very social and very busy. You like to go to bed early and get up early just like your mama, you are very determined like your daddy. You eat everything and love to hide things where ever you can to find them later. You learned to walk at 11 months. You adapt to change well...so far you've been very flexible. You're only cranky when your tired or your mouth hurts. You love to climb all over me...and you're still learning how to be gentle, which puts a damper on how close you can get to the ladies right now bud. You love Muppets and farm animals. You dislike having your diaper changed, baths, and brushing your teeth...you're all boy! You hardly ever wear shoes...although this is more my decision than yours at this point (because if I could get away with being bear foot all the time I would)<br />
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We love you so much! Every night after you've gone to bed your daddy and I sneek in your room to watch you sleep because we miss you! We're so thankful to God for you sweet precious boy of ours! I pray that God will help us be good and wise parents and that you'll continue to be happy and learn to seek after God's heart!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-21549268148591784162012-05-03T03:24:00.000-07:002012-05-03T03:24:02.699-07:00Oh How Time Flys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Somebody tell me how does this...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Become this in a few short months?</span></div>
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My precious baby boy is turning one next week. I've been busy tying up loose ends preparing for his party and procrastinating cleaning my house by shopping and making lists. Tonight my husband and I sorted through his month pictures to pick which ones we wanted to print out for his first year banner. It was so much fun seeing all the subtle changes that lead him to be the bustling busy almost toddler he is today. It goes so fast...I've been trying to remind myself this week to keep it in perspective...telling myself "I am a mother raising a son to be a man, a good man, a God centered man." That's my goal and my desire. Getting to experience him in baby form is just one big blessing from my gracious Heavenly Father! Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-48877307972367536422012-04-27T08:26:00.000-07:002012-04-27T08:26:27.129-07:00I am....not...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently a younger friend and I were corresponding back and forth, and she brought up that she feels like she's dealing with insecurities, and she feels like she's the only one who deals with being insecure. I said no way! ALL WOMEN ARE INSECURE! And that she probably feels like she's the only one because we women are all trying to convince everyone else that they've "got it all together." Why? Good Golly why are we like that? <br />
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I know that I am guilty of this. Perhaps it's the reason I try on 15 different outfits before church on Sunday. Or scramble to clean up if I have a visitor, just dropping something by. <i>"Oh yes my house always looks like this..."</i> No. Why does it feel so good to lead someone into perceiving you a certain way? Being a mom is like living in a constant state of being exposed for what you really are...an imperfect person with an imperfect baby. There's a freedom in it, but it also can open a huge can of new insecurities. <br />
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Here's the truth. My closet is still full of clothes all over, laundry I still need to do. I hardly shower. On the mornings I feel gross enough to shower I walk around saying "I hate shower morning." Besides making meals, I have no hobbies, no projects, no extra anything. I wake up I watch my son, play with him, make his meals, walk with him, let him climb all over me, and basically wear me out until 6:30pm till he's down. Then I make dinner and veg with my husband. Yesterday I tried to cut ribbon for a decoration for his first birthday party during Casey's snack and it was not easy. I thought "this is why I don't do anything...I literally have no energy." I know it won't always be like this. He'll be more independent someday, I'll have more energy someday. But not today. Today I will sit on the couch and enjoy the fact that I showered yesterday, and try not to worry too much about the fact that Casey woke up at 5 am this morning and what it's going to do to our schedule. Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-67702270773671724812012-04-20T08:57:00.003-07:002012-04-20T08:57:42.603-07:00Dinners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes dinner can be the last thing you want to do after a long day talking care of the house and baby. But I think I've finally hit my stride with 2 simple ways to prepare foods. the first thing that helps me is my crock pot. I use it to cook my chicken, usually I put two frozen chicken breasts in with about a cup of water and one pack of Italian dressing seasoning. It cooks on high for 4 to 6 hours (I've also cooked it on low for 8). Then I take out the chicken and shred it up with a fork, and store it in the fridge.<br />
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I use this chicken for loads of things. I use it for chicken pasta with spinach, broccoli chicken casserole, green salads, chicken salad pitas. Cooking the chicken this way makes it really versatile...and you can give it to your baby as finger food too! Easy!<br />
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The next thing I've been into is roasting veggies. This is too easy and so good! All you do is take baby carrots, zucchini, onions, small white or red potatoes, anything you have in your fridge. Cut up what you need to and place in a foil lined pyrex baking pan. Then pour over some olive oil, salt and pepper, and some Italian dry seasoning, and mix all together with your hands and pat flat. Turn your oven to 350 degrees and leave in for 40 to an hour. They get caramelized and delicious. Another great idea is to put either chicken or turkey in the center and put some chopped lemons on top and all around and bake with the veggies for and hour or so. Simple!<br />
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I've been really enjoying spinach lately...I have plans to make spinach and fruit morning smoothies! So hopefully I can share that soon. I never thought I'd be any sort of a meal planner because I'm not a planner but I do want to provide healthy and tasty meals for my hard working hubs and these are things that my little guy can enjoy too once he has more teeth!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-35313030535985833132012-04-12T10:11:00.004-07:002012-04-12T10:12:20.242-07:00Five Thursday Thoughts<br />
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1) Cookies do count as breakfast.<br />
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2) Why oh why are onesie snap buttons so unbelievably hard to button sometimes? I swear it feels like the loooongest moments of my day are snapping those buttons!<br />
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3) This is how much I HATE doing laundry...I have spent the past 2 days cleaning every other part of my house avoiding the walk in closet where all our clothes are now currently stuffed. I even cleaned the base boards?! That's how much I hate laundry. My husband caught on...because I kept walking him around showing him "look at all I've done!" So he couldn't bring up the laundry right?! Cause I've been <i>busy...</i>! Anyways he knew that's what I was doing, but him being one who also hates doing laundry he can't really say anything. Ha!<br />
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4) My baby is learning to walk. He walked across the room the other day and has been trying and falling and just being plan cute working on being a big boy. Adore!<br />
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5) I had to take a shower today... it's been a while, I won't say how long but possibly the last time was a holiday...er don't judge me, it's not like it was Christmas or anything. I also hate showering. Not the showering part, but the having to dry and style my hair part. Why does having a baby suddenly make a lot of things you used to enjoy such a terrible chore now? Too busy I guess. Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-10453647284805357612012-04-11T10:34:00.002-07:002012-04-11T10:34:28.913-07:00Little boys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently read a great article on what little boys need from their moms. I just loved all the suggestions and clarity. I felt relief to know that all boys have tons of energy. It can be hard as a woman to understand their need to constantly be on the move. Some days are just exhausting for me because, at the time, I seem to be his favorite jungle gym. But I love it! This past weekend was so much fun because I can see my sisters little boy Jax (who is a year older than Casey) and Casey becoming little buddies. My sister and I are throwing a joint-birthday party because their birthdays are a week apart and I took pictures of them for our invitations. Oh my goodness I loved watching them interact...they are getting to like each other more and more. It's absolutely precious to me, and I am thankful that they have each other to wrestle and be a boy with. Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-73699151182653900402012-04-02T13:55:00.000-07:002012-04-02T13:55:00.484-07:00Every child is not my child, and yet...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other day I saw something I've seen before. I was standing in line at Target, I was alone with my little guy in the cart...just waiting. All I really do as I wait is people watch and talk to the baby and try and keep his hands full with something other than something I want to buy (or don't want to buy for that matter.) And I hear this woman yelling "Don't touch that!" She was paying for her items at the check out but she was yelling so loudly at her son who was probably 4 or 5 things not to do. I just watched (like everyone else) and kissed my son on the forehead..."God please don't ever let that be me."<br />
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Being the shy person that I am I would never say anything to the woman, I know she was overwhelmed. It doesn't excuse humiliating for son, or herself. But I wanted to hug her little boy. I never payed all that much attention to kids before I had one. I would still be shocked by what that woman did but my motherly response to comfort her son first probably wouldn't have been so strong. My second thought was "maybe she needs some medication..." but that's a different post for a different day. <br />
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My son is still small but I know the time is swiftly approaching when I will be training him in right and wrong. I don't ever want to be as that woman was with my son. I want to hold the rule of "say 10 positive things for every one correction." This is so critical. I want him to be confident and secure in himself. I want him to love himself and know that I love and respect him too. On our daily walk I pray and pray for wisdom to be a good mother and to train him to grow and remain in the Lord. <br />
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God, please be with all the overwhelmed mother's out there today. Help them to realize that what they do and say has a great effect on their children. AmenMeg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-18308194643279481042012-03-28T14:42:00.001-07:002012-03-28T14:42:56.594-07:00My favortie thing to do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My favorite thing to do is watch my son eat. He makes the cutest faces...they change moment by moment. So sweet, love my boy!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-75281897491061810442012-03-23T13:14:00.000-07:002012-03-23T13:14:39.688-07:00"Oh I enjoyed it all right"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIxgALNAmlU/T2zZkGiOoaI/AAAAAAAAAes/jai_NXoLHPo/s1600/as_pure_as_winter_snow_by_deseonocturno-d4ts7vx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIxgALNAmlU/T2zZkGiOoaI/AAAAAAAAAes/jai_NXoLHPo/s640/as_pure_as_winter_snow_by_deseonocturno-d4ts7vx.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">source photo</span> </div><br />
That's right I'll say it...I really enjoyed being pregnant. I did enjoy it in a "hey there's a miraculous thing happening inside by body" way...but what I want to talk about is EATING. Oh girl, I ate whatever I wanted when ever I wanted it. It was bliss. I am not naturally thin, never have been, never will be. I have to watch what I eat or work out like crazy. I've lost weight different ways...working out was not my favorite way. <br />
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Anyhow, here I am 10 months post baby and I don't know how much I weigh because I don't own a scale. (really I see no need to own a product made in the depths of hades) But I know that I am a certain size. That size is not where I want to be. So now I am paying the price for enjoying "eating for two." I've been walking with Casey and it's nice and we enjoy getting out in the fresh air but frankly it does nothing for me in the weight loss department. So after once again being uncomfortable about my body I made two decisions...<br />
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One: I bought new clothes. Honestly it became so frustrating to have all my old clothes right there in my closet and try a squeeze myself into them. So I broke down and bought some new things, because I might as well feel good in what I'm wearing while I'm working on loosing weight.<br />
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Two: This is the worst...I started to run. I hate it. I do. But I've decided I'm walking anyways I need to kick it up a notch if I expect my body to respond. It totally stinks. But I have to accept that this is the body I have and I gotta work hard if I want it to change.<br />
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What I've learned: Well next time around I want to do things different. This is what I think about as I'm running, feeling like I'm gonna die, "Meg remember this next time your pregnant and want to eat whatever you want." I'm determined to do things differently because I know that I'll pay the price for it later. So for now I'm working on getting back to a size where I'm happy.Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-91371465288948267482012-03-22T09:56:00.001-07:002012-03-22T09:57:26.493-07:00Overwhelming Anxiety, My Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L64to-8gXM/T2tZkv7cQ9I/AAAAAAAAAek/lQjK6pA6I6M/s1600/Waves_2_by_Liquidlibrary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L64to-8gXM/T2tZkv7cQ9I/AAAAAAAAAek/lQjK6pA6I6M/s640/Waves_2_by_Liquidlibrary.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">source photo</span></div><br />
Hey everyone! Today I'd like to share a little bit about what has happened to my body since having Casey. We all know stories about women who experience postpartum depression, or maybe you have for yourself. In my mind someone with postpartum depression was someone who couldn't get out of bed, had trouble connecting with their baby, very tired, etc. Well I think instantly after having Casey my hormones hit my body like a ton of bricks. I would describe it like having really bad PMS all the time. I didn't have any trouble connecting with my baby and I would describe myself as happy and indeed I felt happy. But my patience was short with others (mainly my husband) and social interaction was nerve wracking. I didn't want to go anywhere not because I was fearful of protecting my new baby but because I would think about every possible thing that I needed or situations that could happen. My mind was on over-load. <br />
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Anyways I knew this wasn't normal. I've always been a worry wart but my anxiety was overwhelming me so badly I felt like I was in smooth water swimming along and then all of the sudden I was in a current that I just couldn't keep up with and I felt like I was loosing it. Still I felt fine with my son...bonded and I was happy to just stay home and be with him. I just kept thinking "this is going to go away." Well I knew that it had gotten out of hand when my brother and sister-in-law had invited us over for New Year's Eve. I didn't want to go...I mean I was anxious about going to my <i>brother's house</i>...two people I am very close to. We went and it was fine we had a good time but I knew that something was wrong with me and maybe it wasn't going away.<br />
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I have a history of depression in my family so I knew to be aware of things going on with myself. It was hard for me because I never felt sad, I still have a hard time saying that I have postpartum depression...but it's good to know that there are different forms and I struggle with severe anxiety. Anyways during this time my husband and I moved, Casey still wasn't sleeping very well, my hormones were hitting me hard...I called the doctor. She put me on a low dose of Paxil. It took a couple weeks for me to notice a difference but then I started to notice a big difference. My mind calmed down...we could go out and I would sit in the car thinking "wow, my mind isn't racing about all the what if's." It was really good! I felt free.<br />
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It was hard for me in the beginning to wrap my mind around taking medication. But I think that God allows medicine for a purpose. By his grace he has given us medicine to help us, to heal us, and I am thankful. So this was new for me...all this is new for me...but I feel so much better...I just wanted to share my story. <br />
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Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-1419743783903830532012-03-21T14:48:00.000-07:002012-03-21T14:48:23.662-07:00Casey, My boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ctV962xt9s/T2pMe5a7TLI/AAAAAAAAAec/EODNeoOoYrw/s1600/CASEYCOLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ctV962xt9s/T2pMe5a7TLI/AAAAAAAAAec/EODNeoOoYrw/s640/CASEYCOLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Well the last time I posted Casey was only 6 months old...He's almost 11 but not quite. So the past few months have gone by in a blur. Casey is eating big boy foods, drinking only from a sippy cup, sleeping through the night (thank goodness!), and crawling super fast. He's discovered his own communication style...screaming as loud as he can to expresses everything...excitement, frustration, whatever. So I've been trying to give him words to pair with his feelings. All in all he's a good little boy and we love him so much! Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-60169664621472367452012-03-18T19:59:00.001-07:002012-03-18T20:01:15.127-07:00Starting Fresh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3JSdDz0DCC8/T2ag3qOCSLI/AAAAAAAAAeU/FrXCagcKVLU/s1600/478effc8e75fd3ae2f14e8b0e461413b-d4hmr9j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3JSdDz0DCC8/T2ag3qOCSLI/AAAAAAAAAeU/FrXCagcKVLU/s640/478effc8e75fd3ae2f14e8b0e461413b-d4hmr9j.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">source photo</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hey everyone! I know it's been months since I've written anything and even longer since I've written faithfully...but now thanks to the help of my super talented Sister-in-law, Steph, and her amazing blog design, (and Casey finally taking consistent naps) I am finally ready to get back into the swing of things! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've changed my Blog title to "All Things Made New" for various reasons. One is from this verse: </span><br />
<div class="display-passages"><div class="content-wrapper"><div class="content-col"></div><div class="content-col" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)</span><br />
<div class="passage-wrap"><div class="passage-left passage-class-0"><div class="result-text-style-normal text-html "><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-28855">17</sup> This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!</span></div><div class="result-text-style-normal text-html "></div><div class="result-text-style-normal text-html "><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">This verse exemplifies the promise that Our Father is working on us. Which I feel like is a great thing to remember daily! But other than that I just feel like "All Things Made New" is just the phrase that came to mind as I was trying to explain what's been going on in my life. I'm a new mom...I literally didn't get a good night sleep for 8 months...and every little bit of what I am going through is uncharted territory for me. Even working out what it means to be a wife/mom is new. New, new new. There is so much I want to share about what's been going on and I'm excited to jump back into the blogging world. I'm looking forward to sharing more soon! </span> </span> </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-58507566140559754662011-12-01T13:15:00.000-08:002011-12-01T13:15:38.050-08:00The most important post I've ever writtenI am extremely humbled today. Today our church’s MOPS group met. They had a speaker talk on how our families can keep Christ at the center of Christmas. Then they gave everyone a little book about the birth of our Savior wrapped in wrapping paper. I had my son on my lap and didn’t even think twice about letting him tear into it right away. I am so blessed to be able to have his presents already wrapped under the tree. However, there was one mom who didn’t open her’s up. She explained to my mom that she had just lost her job because she has no car and takes the bus and was late twice. She didn’t open it because she wanted her daughter to have something to open. I’ve been crying all day about it. Please try and find some way to help someone out this year! Things are so hard for so many people. This is what matters, I’ll never forget it. Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-4067126965485319282011-11-14T14:59:00.000-08:002011-11-14T14:59:12.378-08:00Casey at 6 Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-15wIrwSSY3g/TsGcPl0jilI/AAAAAAAAAdg/YVEMVrxzDME/s1600/IMG_3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-15wIrwSSY3g/TsGcPl0jilI/AAAAAAAAAdg/YVEMVrxzDME/s320/IMG_3281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Casey, you are a half a year old!! It's gone by so fast!<br />
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Stats:<br />
<b>Weight:</b> 20 lbs. 3 oz.<br />
<b>Height:</b> 27 inches<br />
Tooth Count: 2<br />
<b>Eating:</b> Apples, pears, bananas, zucchini, avocado, peas, and carrots. You tolerate oatmeal but hate rice cereal.<br />
<b>Sleeping:</b> You go to bed at 7pm and only wake up at 4am or 5am if you're hungry, then go back to sleep till 6:30 or so. Plus you take an afternoon nap for a while. Thank you baby for sleeping so good!!!<br />
<b>Misc: </b> You sit up all by yourself and you're trying really hard to crawl. You love to walk in your walking toy and wrestle with your daddy. You have super fast hands and grab anything and everything that comes into your reach. Also you look exactly like your mom except that cute dimple in your chin that every one loves! <br />
You're the sweetest most easy going little boy and we are crazy about you!! I thank the Lord for you all the time, I'm so grateful to be your mama! Happy half-birthday son!! Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-39190171214972710082011-11-14T05:29:00.000-08:002011-11-14T05:29:00.137-08:00The year of Cotton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6VZcaS9ZUw/TrxC6_Ow4FI/AAAAAAAAAdY/MZ97nsbFSyk/s1600/4179894652_fd983f6fe7_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6VZcaS9ZUw/TrxC6_Ow4FI/AAAAAAAAAdY/MZ97nsbFSyk/s320/4179894652_fd983f6fe7_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Two years ago today my husband and I were married. We've had a great couple of years filled with a lot of joy...lots of worries...but lots of love and laughter! The traditional anniversary gift for the 2nd year is cotton...why oh why do you have to wait 30 years for pearls and 60 years for diamonds?! Just kidding cotton suits me fine, it's fluffy and soft just like my post-baby body ;) I love you lovie!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-3334022612048803252011-11-08T14:50:00.000-08:002011-11-08T14:50:16.966-08:00Nature Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEd9VdaDNU4/TrmwcBWvouI/AAAAAAAAAc4/g7MmyOW9Naw/s1600/IMG_3036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KEd9VdaDNU4/TrmwcBWvouI/AAAAAAAAAc4/g7MmyOW9Naw/s320/IMG_3036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQWAsTWZ61g/TrmwmY6N7rI/AAAAAAAAAdA/E_Ui5j9B2ek/s1600/IMG_3021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eQWAsTWZ61g/TrmwmY6N7rI/AAAAAAAAAdA/E_Ui5j9B2ek/s320/IMG_3021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h32WD7fN8eo/Trmw0LE71hI/AAAAAAAAAdI/dfF1PY-2Hhg/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h32WD7fN8eo/Trmw0LE71hI/AAAAAAAAAdI/dfF1PY-2Hhg/s320/IMG_3026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GG1wVZTwUtk/TrmxGacsf-I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/jVrQw1yQV2Q/s1600/IMG_3073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GG1wVZTwUtk/TrmxGacsf-I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/jVrQw1yQV2Q/s320/IMG_3073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My husband and I and Casey went for a nature walk on Monday. We went to the Kaweah Oaks Preserve. It's a special place for me and my husband. We had our second date there, and he proposed to me there as well! It was good to be back with the "Fruit" of our relationship! Enjoy some pictures!!Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4459999068930370536.post-22419580178205576652011-11-08T14:35:00.000-08:002011-11-08T14:37:22.239-08:00Experiencing a Disconnect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biBNhZN1lUs/Trmuo7q4t6I/AAAAAAAAAcw/b2iIjLjnd-A/s1600/IMG_3096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biBNhZN1lUs/Trmuo7q4t6I/AAAAAAAAAcw/b2iIjLjnd-A/s320/IMG_3096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">look who we found in the wilderness?!</span></div><br />
I love being a stay at home mom. It's hard for me to be away from Casey for very long. Even some long naps are hard. (As you can tell obviously I've had more time to blog because Casey is finally napping) There's a draw back to taking care of an infant all day...and that's feeling disconnected from the world.<br />
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Don't get me wrong, I've never ever been a social butterfly. I enjoy spending a lot of time at home, and have always enjoyed alone time. But sometimes I miss things about being out in the world. Having a job is not fun but talking to the same people on a daily basis is nice. I go to our local MOPS things at our church however, I find that every one is in my boat...they don't have a lot of time and we only see each other for a couple hours every other week. This does not relationships make, at least not for an introvert like me.<br />
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Beyond that I've also been experiencing a disconnect in my relationship with Jesus. So many times in the last 6 months I've thought "I wonder if the Lord cares if most of my prayers now-a-days are "Please God let him sleep tonight!" I don't know...but I've been thinking about seasons. You know like seasons in your life, and I figure this is a good season to work on getting my relationship with Jesus back to a good place.<br />
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My little boy will be six months old tomorrow...I can't believe how fast it's gone by. But I'm thankful now for some more regular sleeping patterns and yes, thankful for long naps too.Meg Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18350370933883589721noreply@blogger.com1