Wednesday, April 29, 2009

National Infertility Awareness Week. Cool.

I know we haven’t been trying that long. I know that there are people out there who have been trying for weeks and months and years longer than we have. It doesn’t help though. When your only desire is to be a mother, and it’s the only thing you can’t have, it doesn’t help to know you’re not alone.

When I was 19, I started babysitting for a precious 6 week old named Addison. Her parents trusted me to take care of her, and I treated her like she was my own daughter. I would bring my homework to do while she was sleeping, but I never got anything accomplished because when she would finally fall asleep, I would just watch her. I thought she was an incredible miracle, and I wanted to take it all in. When she cried, I consoled her. When she had accidents, I bathed her. When she grew and started to crawl, I chased her around the house. She was my little baby, and for 28 hours a week, I got to play mom. I loved every minute of it, and when I moved away for college, leaving her was almost as hard as leaving the rest of my family.

I have a yearning deep within to nurse, cloth diaper, and make my own baby food. I long to be the one to dry the tears, bandage the boo-boos, and monitor the phone calls; the bad guy who turns off the light for bed time, makes my child eat their veggies, and doesn’t let my daughter leave the house in that outfit. I want to be the mother my own mother was to me.

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week, and I am happy to share this video with you, even though it brings me to tears every time I watch it.



To the women who have gone before me and are struggling currently, crying through the fertility treatments, being devastated with the absence of lines on the pregnancy test, dealing with the questions of “when are you going to have a baby?”, truly, my thoughts are with you.

*Also posted at my blog over here, at conceiveonline.com. Stop by and visit us there, to get information and support regarding fertility.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Contest Winner!

I'll be back in a little bit to talk about my new blog design, but since it is (just past) 9:00, I wanted to announce the winner of the sandwich wrap! Random.org picked #11 (if I could figure out how to show you this, I totallly would, but I can't figure it out!)

Mimi wins! Check your email for details!


Friday, April 24, 2009

True Story.

Oh! I had a great post typed up and then decided I'm gonna save it for a rainy day!

So instead, I posted over here, and it's pretty great too. And by great, I mean, rather boring and dreary. But it's still a post, and hey, at least it's true and not a made up story.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Earth Day Giveaway!

*Edit at the bottom!

Aaron works outside everyday, traveling from house to house, diagnosing and fixing "pool problems". Because he is visiting customer's homes, and isn't usually in prime location for stopping to get lunch, I pack a sandwich, cereal, chips, cookies, a multitude of assorted snacks and an "I love you" note for him. Daily. The other guys at work ask their wives why they can't pack their lunches like I pack for Aaron. The wives hate me, the men want to be married to me. Sorry fellas, I'm taken. By a man who appreciates a great peanut butter and marshmellow fluff sandwich.

Because I am trying to be more Earth Friendly (right in time for Earth Day!), I am teaming up with Mama Bee to give one of my lucky readers a reuseable sandwich wrap!

Whether you are packing a sandwich for your kids lunch box or to make your husbands co-workers jealous, you will love this wrap! The inside of the wrap is laminated and can be wiped clean, and the velcro closure allows for various sized sandwiches.

I have to give this one away, but you'd better believe I am ordering one for Aaron, one for myself, and matching snack bags (pictured below). Not only are they cute (don't tell Aaron I'm packing cute things in his lunch box), they are better for the enviroment than all of the plastic bags I am ashamed to admit I've thrown away.

Please stop by Mama Bee's Etsy shop or blog and take a look at her items!

To enter the contest, leave a comment below with your plans for celebrating Earth Day, or what you and your family are doing to use less!

*I know I'm not supposed to edit giveaways, but Mama Bee informed me that if you purchase an item from her shop and enter the promotional code "first free stuff", you will receive a FREE GIFT! Thanks, Beth!

Extra comment for each time you twitter, but then come back here and leave another comment.

Contest ends Tuesday, April 28th at 9:00 pm, winner will be notified by email. You don't need to have a blog to enter, just make sure to leave an email address.

Good luck!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Tweet!

We had a great time at the NWI Tweet-Up benefiting the NWI Humane Society today. Corrin organized a good time for a great cause!


The Tweet-Up was held at a cute little coffee shop in Merrillville, Spill the Beans. They have a very warm and comfortable atmosphere, and the staff are really friendly and gracious.


Thanks for organizing the Tweet-Up Corrin! Lots of fun!


Thursday, April 16, 2009

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tweet Tweet!

What’s that you say? There’s a Tweet-up coming up?

Yes! I did say that!

And you should totally be there.

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Spill the Beans Coffee Shop
7992 Broadway
Merrillville, IN 46410

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Our Tweet-up benefits the NWI Humane Society.

For full details, visit Corrin's blog!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Maddie

I want to be funny. I want to post something today that will make you laugh, or brighten your day. But I don't have it in me.

I cannot stop thinking about Maddie. I don't know her mom. I never had the honor of meeting Maddie. I don't know what it's like to lose a child, or cry over a sick baby. I don't know.

But I do know that this community amazes me. And I'm blown away by the kindness of strangers to a family in their time of need.

All of it just makes me want to hug a little longer, say "I love you" one more time, spend more time with my family.

A little girl I've never met has inspired me to love more.

Thank you, sweet baby.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Contest winner

Contest is over, thank you to everyone who participated!

Allyson! You win! Check your email!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4
Timestamp: 2009-04-12 20:38:46 UTC


Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Winds of change

I have never been one to buy natural or organic products; I have never closely inspected the back of products I buy or use. I use plastic grocery bags (gasp!).

But I'm changing, I am taking baby steps. Buying reusable shopping bags, drinking organic milk, and using natural beauty products. I've heard the rumors about lipstick (whale blubber? can't find proof), looked up ingredients in mascara (some, but not all, are made with lead), and become terrified of lotions (they can contain lots of chemicals that are absorbed into your skin and can cause cancer). I am going to take the steps I can to ensure I'm keeping as many toxins out of my body as possible.

Because I believe this lifestyle starts early (I wish I'd known 10 years ago what I know now), I am giving away a couple products that you can use on your babies and children, that are free of fragrances, dyes, and chemicals. Arbonne is a company that I am falling in love with, and their line of ABC (Arbonne Baby Care) products are all natural and not only will you have a clean, soft baby, but you will also feel good knowing that you are not using chemicals on your sweet little one!

Products included in Giveaway are (1) 8 oz. Hair and Body Wash, and (1) 5.9 oz. Baby Body Oil.


Wouldn't you love to have these products?!
There are lots of ways to enter and win!


1. Go visit my friend (and Arbonne consultant), Jeannine's Arbonne site, and look around. Find something you would love to have for yourself or someone in your family, then come back here and leave a comment.

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Tweet about the contest, and make sure to @nataliejanette in your tweet.

4. Follow my blog!

5. Post about this contest on your blog.


*Leave a seperate comment for each entry. Contest ends Saturday, April 11 at 9:00 pm, winner will be announced on Monday, April 13. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond. You do not need to be a blogger to win, please just make sure you leave an email address where you can be contacted.
Good Luck!

A special birthday

Happy Birthday, sweet Audrey girl!

There are lots of people all over the world, who are thinking of you, and praying for you today.

Even though we never had a chance to know you, we love you still.

For Audrey's story, please go here. For Angie's (her mom) current blog post, please go here.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Eek!

I am in serious need of a bloggy makeover. I tried to re-do this new background (easy) and customize this header (hello? nightmare) by myself today and it has given me a headache.

After a balanced dinner of chips & salsa and frosted mini-wheats, I'm enjoying the evening with some Bret Michaels and tomato juice.

Don't even say it. I'm not pregnant.



Background and original header compliments of The Cutest Blog on the Block