CherJoy Blog - Page 60

Giving Joy

Baby shower gift idea: Chewbeads

At my California baby shower, a friend of mine gifted me some Chewbeads and I instantly fell in love with the concept! They’re soft and non-toxic, making it easy for teething babies to tug, grab and chew on them, all while you look fashionable and put together! It’s brilliant. I was given the Hudson in turquoise {pictured here} and surprisingly, I’m looking forward to when Jace starts teething so I can whip it out and stuff it in his mouth, ha. I have a very sweet friend in Arizona who’s having her 2nd boy and since I’m missing the baby shower, I wanted to send something fairly small to keep shipping costs down, and something a little more girly, since she’s surrounded by boys! So, I picked out a colorful necklace for the hot summer months to come and a Gift Card to spend on her registry and sent it off. There are so many Chewbeads necklaces {and bracelets!} to choose from, it’s hard to pick just one style and color! Hoping she likes this one.

April 28, 2014 by cherjoy

Favorites

Bloom Theory Shop … I’ll have one of each, please

Have you all seen these scarf // camera straps?! Well, if not, here they are. The girls from Bloom Theory really have something unique here. I bought my camera 3+ years ago and have YET to buy a camera strap. I still use the Canon strap that came with the camera and it’s pretty lame. I’ve been shopping for a strap forever it seems like, but every one I pick out, I worry it won’t go with an outfit or will be too clunky. But these? Goodness, they’re gorgeous. I’m afraid I’d need one of each though, to go with every outfit. Guess that’s how they hook you! But in all honesty, I would love to have any one of these. They’re so dang clever. What camera straps are you loving out there these days?? I’m also drawn to just the classic, leather camera strap, in a great, solid color. Might be more versatile.

{pictures borrowed from the Bloom Theory Shop website. You can find more here.}

April 24, 2014 by cherjoy

Food, Giving Joy

Gift idea for Easter: Mini kitchen sink carrot cakes

It’s tradition in my house to make {& eat} carrot cake on Easter. I have a pretty wicked obsession with carrot cake. And pumpkin pie, too, for that matter. . . But Easter calls for carrot cake, and as you know, last year I made Joy the Baker’s Kitchen Sink Carrot Cake and thought it was AMAZING, so I made it again this year. You know, where you grate the carrots, pack in all the goods, whisk eggs, sift powdered sugar, etc. It’s pretty time-consuming, but so worth it. However, I know that if I have a whole bundt cake in my kitchen, with cream cheese frosting on it, I’m most likely going to eat the whole thing. So, because I’m trying to lose this baby pouch, I decided to make mini cakes to share with friends and our neighbors. The mini, large cup cakes weren’t as moist as if a bundt cake, but still delicious. I added a little garnish and hand delivered them on Easter . . and then sat down to one myself with a huge glass of milk. It was the perfect end to our first Easter as a family.

April 23, 2014 by cherjoy

Family, Holidays, Jace, Santa Cruz

Easter Sunday at Vintage Faith

On Easter Sunday we went to church for the first time as a family. It was so special. Our church brought together all 4 gatherings for one big service at the Civic Center downtown. Not only was it resurrection day {he has risen!}, but we got to celebrate together as a whole church, no split services. It was a pretty awesome morning — the Civic Center was bumping with great song, prayer, worship and performances by Wanda Jackson. The message of the day? God is the light. May we continue to follow him and learn from his teachings and share his love with those around us. Lately I’ve been feeling like the world is coming down on my shoulders, so this message hit hard. No bad day or insecure thought is really that big a deal when you have God by your side. There is always light, thanks to what Jesus did for us. Hope you all had nice Easter with your loved ones!

John 8:12 — Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

{Wanda Jackson! Can’t stop humming Hank Williams’ “I Saw the Light” . . .}

{Little Jace was a little overstimulated by the end, but overall a great success.}

April 22, 2014 by cherjoy

Cheryl, Jace

4th trimester

They weren’t kidding when they said babes go through a 4th trimester. Little boy is going through this stage where he is happiest when he is held or swaddled super tight. As I’ve said before, some days are easy, and some aren’t. On the not-so-easy days, I try to lay him down, he cries. Put him in the swing, he cries. I try tummy time, he cries. So, I hold him. It really zaps you, but I can’t let go. And I love to sleep with him, and snuggle. It’s really too much sometimes. These tears of joy are here to stay. I’ve been trying hard to start sleep training, by pushing the time between feedings and keeping him distracted and more awake during the day. Still working on it! One night he slept 7 hours. It was miraculous.

This -mester I’ve been living on the pre-made salads from Trader Joe’s, LUNA bars, greek yogurt, egg scrambles, fruit, steamed veggies, and a lot of meat. I’ve never paid so much attention to what, when and how much I’m eating. This breastfeeding thing is exhausting at times. I feel like if I’m not eating between feedings I’m not producing anything. Oh, and water. I sort of have to drink a lot of it, or nothing’s coming out. So much to think about in a day! And going out is a whole other issue. Must coordinate to pump or breastfeed before I go to the gym, or out with friends, or they hurt! And I don’t need any more stretch marks if you know what I mean. I just pray they go back to somewhat normal after I wean him off this summer. I sure want something left after all this.

While I rock baby boy to sleep I read, or I read on my patio or in beed while he sleeps, or at 1am when I can’t fall back asleep. I’ve finished 4 books so far this year: Ender’s Game, Maisie Dobbs, Heft, and The Tools. Reading Someone right now, and really hope to keep this reading momentum going. Have also been reading all the magazines I ordered. Love getting them in the mail and flipping through while I have lunch. Happiness!

Working out again sure feels good. I’m sore most days, and my knees hurt, but I gotta fit into my jeans again, or else what am I going to wear when I go back to work?! My maternity clothes?! On the bright side, I’ve joined a little mommy walking club {yay}. And taking long walks along the beach with Jace once a day is the best. The air, the waves, the sunshine, the smell of sunblock. . . heaven!

Other than all that, this “4th trimester” has been rather blissful. Most evenings Rob and I can eat dinner together and talk about our day . . . and what we love most about our son. I have some bags under my eyes and my stomach still gets in knots sometimes, but that will go away eventually. Trying to keep it together and things easy-going, so little boy will be easy-going. Will be weird going back to work at the end of this month. Work? What is THAT?! My current work day has been kissing Jace and squeezing his chubbo cheeks! And planning little things for us to do on the weekends as a family, making meal plans, working out, cleaning, etc. Maybe this is what stay-at-home-mommas do. Because if so I could totally get used to this. But, we live in California, and it costs an arm & a leg {& an another arm} to live here. So, Momma’s going back to work.