Sa-tur-day is a spe-cial day...

In our house- 

Saturday is a special day. 

A very, very special day. 

When Parker was first born, I was going to school and working from home. I felt very overwhelmed at times but I loved everything I was doing and wasn't willing to give it up. My choice. 

It was also my choice to implement "Saturday is a Special Day."

Basically, Jed is in charge on Saturday. Of basically everything. All things Parker. Meals, decisions, whatever. He runs the show. 

Normally, we do a lot of things together. We enjoy planning things, laughing together, helping Parker etc. 

NOT Saturday's. 

After 21 years- I have learned that I just need a day to be told what to do and to not to anything. 

It is magnificent. And it has saved our marriage in a lot of ways. 

When it comes to Parker, there are specific ways I like things done. I used to nag on Jed that he wasn't holding him right, wasn't changing the diaper fast enough or used too many wipes (really!! in worst cases you only need 2!!) and it made Jed feel like he couldn't do anything right. 

Thus-- Saturday is a Special day. 

Now that Jed has taken care of Parker nearly every Saturday since he was born, he has learned how to do everything, I have gotten the much needed rest that every Mom needs, and Parker gets to spend Q-T with his daddy. 

Win. Win... win.

[Office anyone?]

The Yeast Free Diet

After getting a recommendation to a Dr. in Provo (my previous Dr. was in American Fork) I went in for an appointment to get a different type of birth control. I have been on several different kinds- basically everything you can think of- I've tried. Anyways, the BC I was most recently put on made me sick... yet again. The only type of BC I have been on that didn't made me sick is the mini-pill- commonly prescribed to breastfeeding mom's for several reasons. Then after I stopped breastfeeding and running out of the mini-pill I went back to the same BC I used before getting pregnant- one that at the time worked fine- and it made me sick. Yay. OKAY- this post is not about BC. I was just trying to point out that I went to the Dr. for a new prescription. 

Whew. 

After taking a life-long medical history- NO JOKE!- and taking a few tests and doing a physical, the Dr. prescribed a yeast free diet- also referred to as the Candida diet. My diet (many yeast free diets differ) is no sugar or sugar containing foods, no white flour or refined grain products, no cheese, no alcohol, no fruit or fruit juices, no coffee/tee/caffeine containing herbal teas, mushrooms, peanuts and peanut products, all processed meats and lunch meats, artificial sweetener, and vinegar.

Nearly every product on the market has sugar in it!

The list is overbearing at times- like when I'm trying to eat- but I've done some reading and it sounds like it has potential. There are several books, articles, forums, and websites where people can discuss this diet and can help each other with it. It's not easy- that's for sure. I'm on day 2. Of at least 4 weeks. Gosh I didn't realize how unhealthy my diet was until I started reading labels. Wake up call. 

I have always been the "sick kid." My immune system has always been weak and I seem to catch EVERYTHING. I've had strep throat 4 times since being married- not to mention impetigo, a staph infection, bronchitis, pink eye and a billion other things just in the past few years. 

 

If I have to ultimately eliminate some foods from my diet- I'm okay with that. Especially if that means being more healthy. Being a mom is that much harder when I feel like I'm on my deathbed with another bout of strep. ugh. For now I have researching recipes and meal substitutions that don't break my budget. It's not easy- but I know it's gonna be worth it. 

Isn't everything that way?

Parker's Party!

For Parker's party this year- I really wanted to do something duckie related. He loves water and loves to play with his duckie! I thought that doing candy as the main refreshment would save on money and prep time- so that's what we went with. Well... the colors of the candy were so vibrant and pretty when placed in glass candy dishes- that doing blue, yellow,and white duckie themed party just didn't fit. And we already had the candy. So... we did both. It really wasn't the most cohesive and I'm not even sure the guests saw the ducks (or the duck shaped ice cubes that took 4 days to re-freeze) but it was sooo fun! A TON of people showed up, and even a few surprises showed up! All in all, it was a great party. OH, and yes. He had his very own cake. :)

here's where I got my ideas from: the ballon wreath , the yarn balls, and the sponge water bombs (pictured in the pool)

Parker Post- 1 year!

HOLY COW!

I literally can not explain how weird it is that Parker is 1! I mean, am I really old enough to have a 1 year old? Did I really survive one whole year with a child? And he's normal---WHAT!?!

It's CRAZY! Even still. I always just think he's 9 months old. I dunno why. I guess the same reason I still think I'm 18. Who knows?

Anyways-- here are Parker's stats: 

Height: 29.5 inches

Weight: 20.5 lbs
Head Circumference:    (who cares?) 

 {this is him at the DR's and the onesie I made for him}

About Parker: 

He LOVES to: 

-take a bath

-swim

-push things around

-crawl

-chase after anyone who 

leaves from the front door

-play with electronics- a NO NO

-sleep with 1 of 2 light blue crocheted blankets 

(one made by each of his great-grandmas)

-eat... basically everything

-especially meatballs and animal crackers

-playing with other kids

He DOESN'T like: 

-getting his diaper changed

-getting dressed

-being held

-staying quiet during church

-juice

-getting his ears/nose/hands/face cleaned

-being dirty 

(those last two really don't work together... hence the daily battle)

-anything cold

-cuddling

Other: 

-he signs more, all done and is working on please and thank you

-he loves to crawl and is VERY close to walking

-loves to laugh, and he smiles a lot

-he flips the pages while we read

-he claps by holding one hand still and moving just one hand

-he drinks VIT D milk 

-drinks water from a sippy cup

-he takes two 2 hour naps a day

-can climb up and over the couch/pew 

-can stand/squat by himself

{the family at Coney's getting some froyo}

My mom, Morgan (left) and Gabrielle (right) and Alyssa (not pictured) were all here for Parker's birthday! The day before we got to go to a tour of a candy factory! It was a blast! So glad they all could come- even if it was for just a quick visit. 

Parker had a great birthday! Love you, Parker! :)

Erica's Baby Shower

I was able to host a baby shower for my SIL Erica. 

We're excited to meet Eric Reed Alvey Jr.
And his due date is my birth date- so woot woot!! 

I just wanted to share some pictures of the party- it was a blast! 

Thanks to everyone that came and supported Erica and baby Reed!

Ideas came from: cupcake to go

July 2011

Our July was pretty eventful. So is every month, right?? 

It started out with the 4th of July. 

We headed up some mountain for Grandpa Chuck's (Jed's dad's dad) annual breakfast. 

It was delish and a fun way to start the rest of the festivities! 

Then we went home, got ready, and headed up to Roy for the other Alvey's BBQ. There was so many people there, yummy food, and Parker got passed around to everyone- so for me, it was a hit! 

This is was we made: 

I got the recipe from Craftaholics Anonymous. I made each layer over several days, and just garnished the top that day. It made it way easier, and much more fun. 

You'd think after that jello dish- that things like this wouldn't happen: 

but they do. 'Tis life. 

Then we went to the Benson reunion the next weekend. It was in this beautiful location: 

Parker got to play with his Grandma's hat

hang out with Dad

and we did an "Amazing Race" with the whole family. Jed and I were team captains for our teams- and my team won 2nd place and Jed's team won 3rd. Then we both were in the horseshoe tournament and my team got 4th place and Jed's team won. It was SOOO much fun! I loved how organized everything was, and I got to meet a lot of new family members. I even volunteered to help out next year-- which should be fun. 

Then we watched my cousins for 4 days. We stayed at their house and basically didn't see Parker the entire time we were there. There kids just love Parker and he LOVES the attention they give him. It was fun to get to spend time with them, and to help out so my aunt and uncle could have a getaway. 

Then we celebrated our 2 year anniversary! We went out to the Olive Garden for lunch one day. {Thanks Lillie for watching Parker!) 

Then, we arranged for Charles and Erica to babysit Parker (OVERNIGHT!!! thank you, thank you) and we got to go to the drive inn to see Harry Potter! It was a magical night- mixed emotions about leaving Parker- but it was really REALLY nice to have some time with just the two of us. {The FIRST overnight since Parker was born!}

Then the next weekend we went camping with our ward and then the next weekend we went camping with a big group of friends. Both were awesome trips and Parker did so well. I feel LAME because I didn't really get pictures of either trip- because we were just having WAY too much fun to stop and get a picture I guess. 

Here are a few other pictures for your viewing pleasure: 

Up next for the Alvey's is a baby shower, first birthday/party, hopefully getting a job offer, and applying for grad school. YAY! Life is gonna start calming down.

Bra shopping

I am in the market for a new bra. 

{Whoa, Aubrey. Isn't that a sensitive subject to be putting out in "blogland"? No- it's a fact of life. And I'm pretty sure no men read this blog. So I'm okay with it}

My friend, Christine, told me she was gonna look at my blog today. 

No one has ever told me they were gonna look at my blog. 

I was {MORTIFIED}.

Why? Cuz I haven't posted on here forever. 

and because I have so many high hopes for this URL-- that have NOT happened. 

Anywho--- welcome, Dean!

Back to the BRA situation. 

For those of you who are equally or more "endowed" than I am in the chestal region, I am SO Sorry! I think they make bra's for sizes nearly A-B... and after that- you are just expected to deal with the icky spillover, back bulge, and all other sorts of uncomfortable-ness.

Why am I so suddenly interested in this?
I am DOOONNNNNEEEE breastfeeding. 

Parker is 11 months and 9 days old, and I am done. Well, WE are done to be exact. 

Let's just say 6 teeth {fangs} are not allowed ANYWHERE near these jewels. 

My experience with breastfeeding was a ROLLARCOASTER to say the least, but I passed my goal of 6 months a LOOONNNNGG time ago, and with Parker now totally fine without my milk- I feel like doing some sort of rain dance, 

except I CAN"T. Cuz my bra doesn't hold these things in. 

So here's where YOU come in. Have you found a brand or style that has helped you? Or have any suggestions for when I go bra shopping for a NON-nursing bra?  I really need some help here, sisters. (Literal and figurative sisters)

Please leave a comment.