The Growing Tree

Sunday, May 12, 2013

My Husband Rocks Vol. 13

Before we begin, I just want to say Happy Mother's Day to all my momma readers! I hope you had a great day and you are spoiled rotten with sleep, food and love!

I also want to personally apologize to Vicki and all of the MHR readers for not getting this posted on time today! I thought I had it set up to automatically post, but apparently that was not the case! I'm so sorry!

No husband is perfect and it doesn’t really matter. What matters is how I set myself up to think about him. If I focus on his failures, his annoyances, or ways in which I’ve felt hurt by him, then I will interact with him as a hurt and frustrated and disappointed wife. That makes for miserable living for me and my husband and those around us. But if I focus on his strengths, his potential, and the ways in which I feel blessed by him, then I will interact with him as a forgiving, blessed, and contented wife. And there’s no greater need a man has than to feel respected by his wife. If he feels like all he does is hurt, disappoint, and frustrate, then the same atmosphere and the same actions will be perpetuated. But if he feels that his wife can be happy and responsive regardless of his shortcomings, he feels respected and empowered. Then a positive atmosphere is perpetuated and actions, once destructive, can improve in an environment that is rich for cultivation and growth into deepened respect and intimacy."

(from the From*me Tees Mission Reflection)

This week I am joined by my fellow nail polish enthusiast Vicki from My Vickilicious Life! Check out her post here:

This week we are talking about your favorite place to go on a date!

Ok, so I know we have pictures somewhere, but I can't seem to find them, so this photo is going to have to be sufficient. And even though we looooove going to sporting events together (in fact that's where we are going today! Mike is taking me to a Cubs baseball game for Mother's Day! Super excited) our favorite place to go on a date has NOTHING to do with sports.

Usually, any time we have a baby-free night we find ourselves at the movie theater to see a movie! The latest time that we went was last weekend when we went and saw Iron Man 3. (AWESOME by the way) He also took me to see my very first 3D movie and it was a girly movie too! Usually it's the big blockbusters that we go see: Thor, The Avengers, Iron Man, Batman. We've seen them all. And there is nothing better than watching an awesome movie on a huge screen.

We want to hear all about the loves of your lives!

*Next Sunday*

Ida from Eternity Kind of Love will be hosting with me! Topic of conversation will be:

FREE FOR ALL - write about anything you want!

* If you would like to participate *

Follow the prompt, or just wing it and blog about whatever you want, as long as it is about the love of your life! Don't feel like you can't contribute if you are not married, this is for anyone who wants to celebrate their significant other! Then come back here and link up in the collection at the bottom of this post. Please grab the button and use it in your post, or post it somewhere on your blog!

The only thing I ask is to follow my blog and my co-host Vicki's blog via GFC, Bloglovin, Facebook or Twitter (icons at the top of my page - be sure to comment below and let me know how you follow and I will follow you back!) Then, take a look around at the other blogs linked up and leave them some love too!

* If you want to add the blog hop to your post *

If you want to participate in the hop and add the link-up to your post, click here and highlight the first code!

* If you would like me to add you to the advance email OR if you would like to co-host in the future*

If you would like to receive the code for the post before it goes live, or would like to co-host your very own My Husband Rocks Sunday Link-up, send me a message with the subject My Husband Rocks to:

See you later lovebugs!

Rachael

Saturday, May 11, 2013

52 in 52 Update: May

I last updated on April 12, 2013. You can view the full list here.

1. Blog at least twice a week. I think I accomplished this again.
2. My Hubby Rocks posts each Sunday. Go here to view them.
3. 52 in 52 updates once a month (3/12 )
4. Post Desire to Inspire posts once a month. Here and here (3/12)
5. "Little Miss Natalie" posts twice a month. Here and here (3/12)

24. Get a meal planning system going. Haven't gotten this finished yet. We did one week of it, but then kind of fell off the wagon. We will get started soon.

30. Update baby book monthly. Ha. I'll get to it eventually.
32. Finish 0-6 month scrapbook. Haven't touched it. Hopefully will have some time soon.
37. Bump shots weekly starting at 18 weeks. I've been pretty good at this. Missed a few weeks. I'm trying to remember! lol

45. Have a set bedtime and wakeup time and stick to it, even on weekends. I've got weekdays down pretty good, just need to stop sleeping in on weekends.

49. Read 25 books. (1/25) Read: Fifty Shades of Gray
Currently: Fifty Shades Darker

That's it for now! Looks like a good start to me. My next update will be June 13!

Until later, lovebugs!

Rachael

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Desire to Inspire - I Am Beautiful

When I saw this link up opportunity on Lena's blog a few weeks ago, I knew I had to join in. Body image is something that I think every girl struggles with at some point in their lives, and I have also dealt with personally for a good chunk of my life. There have been times when I have done something about it like pick my lazy butt up and get to the gym, and there are other times where I did nothing more than cry into my pillow when yet-another-stupid-boy called me fat or ugly.

Now that I have a daughter, I feel like it's even MORE important to feel comfortable with myself, just the way I am, so that I can lead by example for Natalie. Now, while I'm not currently "doing anything about it" I already have plans in place to get back into the gym, start my Waist Watcher Wednesday posts, remain accountable, and shed that baby weight. Then following that, get down to a place that FEELS healthy on the weight scale. I'm not SO worried about weight, more how I feel in my clothes and in my skin.

Also, at the same time I want to be ok with whatever point I am at in my weight loss. I want to feel confident and I am working on that. I am hoping that I will be successful in helping Natalie to have a positive self image as well. I don't know yet how exactly that will happen, other than to love her and tell her how beautiful she is, which isn't hard because she really is the most beautiful little girl to me!

On another note, more recently I have seen this great video that I am going to link here call the Dove Real Beauty Sketches, where girls describe themselves, and then a woman (or man) who has just had a brief conversation with them individually sit down with a sketch artist. The drawings are then placed side by side, and....well....just watch. It's amazing, sad, and revealing all at the same time.

Moral of the story:

You are more beautiful than you know. Embrace it. Live it. Flaunt it.

BE YOU, because you can't be anyone else.

And above all else:

See you later lovebugs,

Rachael

Sunday, May 5, 2013

My Husband Rocks Vol. 12

(from the From*me Tees Mission Reflection)

This week I am joined by the beautiful Jen from On a Rock in the Pacific! Check out her post here:

This week we are talking about what ways your husband supports you in your dreams.

Photo from my cousin's wedding this past weekend =)

This is a tough one for me, because Mike supports me no matter what. I tend to go through phases with my projects, and he never complains. First it was making bracelets, and he never complained when I was working on one. Then once I got pregnant I got back into this blog full time, and he never complains when I need to take some time and write up a post or two. (like right now, he's sitting beside me playing xbox, just waiting patiently for me to be done) I don't have any real big dreams, except one - becoming a professional photographer along side one of my best friends. I haven't really been able to even get a plan together yet, but I know that when I do, he will be right beside me, cheering me on. Other than that, it's just little things throughout each day that lets me know he listens, he cares, and he will be there for me no matter what!

My husband ROCKS =)

We want to hear all about the loves of your lives!

*Next Sunday*

Vicki from My Vickilicious Life will be hosting with me! Topic of conversation will be:

Favorite Place to Go on a Date

* If you would like to participate *

The only thing I ask is to follow my blog and my co-host Jen's blog via GFC, Bloglovin, Facebook or Twitter (icons at the top of my page - be sure to comment below and let me know how you follow and I will follow you back!) Then, take a look around at the other blogs linked up and leave them some love too!

* If you want to add the blog hop to your post *

If you want to participate in the hop and add the link-up to your post, click here and highlight the first code!

* If you would like me to add you to the advance email OR if you would like to co-host in the future*

See you later lovebugs!

Rachael

Friday, May 3, 2013

Little Miss Natalie

You have just been a little chatterbox lately! Always saying hi or bye bye to everyone, talking about kitty kitty and meowing, saying "nigh night" when you're tired, telling us we "gotta go" or "donwanna go" and my newest favorite....

Awwwww MOM! whenever I tell you no to something! And it's completed by a big ol' pout! You sure know how to work me already.

We took you to Chuckie Cheese for the first time, and you had a blast! Anything with a steering wheel you wanted to ride over and over!

We also took you to the circus this week! We weren't sure you would sit still but you did amazing! Completely mesmerized by each new thing and you didn't get bored once!!