JUST A MINUTE 31 DAY DEVOTION

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I sure miss those days when I had all the time in the world to hang out with Jesus. I'd wake up late (clearly, I'm talking about pre-children days), make a coffee and then open up my Bible and linger there for a looooong time. I know those days aren't gone forever but right now my alarm clock is my 7 month old daughter and once we're up it's nursing, coffee, breakfast for both kiddos, get ready and get on with our day! 

Usually I don't get my quiet time until both babes are quietly napping....and that's ok. This is my current season and God has been so faithful and so full of grace. Maybe some of you mama's with little ones can relate!

Today I'm so excited to share with you an e-book devotion called Just a Minute by Lani Lupul. It's an amazing resource that will encourage you and help you in your daily devotion. You can read it like a book or use each chapter as a daily devotion.
 

"He draws near to us (James 4:8). And sometimes through all the craziness of life’s changes, all we need is a just a minute in His presence to reset and hear His voice."-from the intro of Just a Minute.

Here's an example of one of the daily devotions:

Fruits of frustration
 
| Scripture: John 14:15-31|
 
I totally bombed this weekend. My domestic duties took a nose-dive and I swore and nearly cried in frustration on Troy’s shoulder over what had happened. Let’s just say my cooking skills left our house with a distressing burnt odour and it consumed our Saturday as we cleaned up the mess. I had envisioned us celebrating our upcoming second anniversary with a nice family outing, not cleaning and doing laundry all day with a four-month-old strapped to my tummy. I was so upset.

Not. What.We.Had.Planned.

But this thought had been on my mind prior to this, and even more so after the long Saturday gone astray: I don’t want to live my life reacting out of frustration.
There will be daily opportunity for frustrations. Frustrated when I’m late, yet again, because I realized I didn’t pack the diaper bag, Elizabeth spit up, again, and needs a change, and that one phone call I needed to make before I left the house didn’t get done. Frustrated when Troy and I can’t get the time I want and know we need. Frustrated when a speeding ticket comes in the mail. Frustrated when someone doesn’t respond the way I wished they would. And as Elizabeth becomes a toddler, I am most certain there will be opportunity for multiple frustrations.

However, I don’t want to be a frustrated mommy, wife, friend, daughter, or sister. I want to live out of the peace that Jesus has already given me (John 14:27). I want to be a peace-bringer, if that is such a thing.

But how do I live out of peace, rather than reacting with frustration every time something doesn’t go the way I want it to? Because in each opportunity for frustration, I’m pretty certain there’s an opportunity for fruit as well; for something new to grow.
 
In John 14:15-31, Jesus is telling His disciples that when He goes, He will send the Holy Spirit. They will not be left alone. Jesus promises to leave peace, His peace. And the following chapter, 15, starts with Jesus telling them to abide in Him, His love, His words.

Friends, the way out of frustrations, as I can see it in scripture, is to abide in Him.

Abide means: to remain stable or fixed in a state, to endure without yielding, to wait for.

In the moments when I’m frustrated that things didn’t go my way (just ask Troy, this happens. A lot.), I want to quiet my heart and abide in the peace Jesus has already given me. Stay in that fixed state of peace. Find a thankful heart. Thank Him for what He’s already done for me, and all of His good gifts. And crawl out of the bowl of frustrations into the fruitful vineyard from the better choices He will help me make instead.

In fact, I want to start my day with peace, rather than hitting the ‘go’ button on the to-do list that will always be there.

They say when life gives you lemons, to make lemonade. Well, when frustrations happen, and they will, daily, I want to abide in Jesus’ love for me and all that He has already done, and hold on to the fact that in every frustration there is opportunity for fruit!

Here's a bit about Lani- Married to her favourite carpenter with two young sweetheart daughters, Lani Lupul loves everything about home. With 10 years of corporate communications and travelling the globe in her past, she now counts diaper changes, recites nursery rhymes, and attempts dance parties in the kitchen at supper time when everything is often falling apart. Her quiet nature lends itself to great introspection, with a desire to help others live full lives close to God’s heart. Her lifestyle blog, This is How we Home, is her breath of creativity as she grows as a wife and mom, and shares her stories of faith, creating home, and natural health. Her self-published ebooks, After I Do, and Just a Minute, can be found on Amazon and Apple iBooks.

Thanks for letting me share a chapter our of your book, Lani! Be sure to get a copy of Just a Minute and check out Lani's blog!

XO!
Laura

HEALTHY SWEET POTATO + BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

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Did you know that muffins can be lifesavers? Seriously, one of the greatest gifts you can drop off to a new mama is a dozen of freshly baked muffins! In those early days of nursing around the clock (aka hungry 24/7), I remember being so thankful for the muffins that friends had baked for me.  

I alwaaays have muffins in the fridge or freezer as they make a great breakfast or snack on the go. Luca loves them and so does London girl! 

I love making these Quick and Skinny Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (I use coconut palm sugar instead of honey so London can eat them) but I wanted to add another muffin to the rotation. I came across these Sweet Potato ones (yams for all you Canadian folk!) in the Love Child Organic Cookbook (such a good cookbook for baby, toddler and family food!!) and I loved them so much that I needed to share the recipe with you guys!

SWEET POTATO + BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

makes 2 dozen muffins
modified from the Love Child Organic Cookbook

Ingredients:

• spray oil to grease pan
• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 2 cups of flour (I use 1 cup white and 1 cup whole wheat)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp ground flax seed
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups roasted mash sweet potato (best if you roast the night before. Just poke holes with a fork and roast them at 425 for about an hour)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup coconut palm sugar
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cup blueberries (I use frozen ones)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 and lightly grease two muffin pans.
2. Mix oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and flaxseed in a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl (I use my Kitchenaid mixer) mix the sweet potato, eggs, coconut sugar, milk and coconut oil.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredient and then carefully fold the blueberries in. Be careful not to over mix the blueberries as it will turn your muffins blue!
5. Pour batter into the muffin tins (about 2/3 full) and bake for about 20 minutes. Eat within three days or freeze right away! I usually keep one dozen out and freeze the other dozen!
6. Enjoy!!

Happy baking!!

XO, Laura

LONDON ROSE // SEVEN MONTHS

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Man oh man, how is London SEVEN MONTHS old. She's creeping up on her ONE year birthday and it makes me want to crrrry. I was looking at little toddler shoes last night and seriously wanted to cry thinking about her walking around, I just can't imagine it...please stay little a little bit longer my love.

 

LONDON AT SEVEN MONTHS

WEIGHT: I haven't weighed her since her 6 month doctor's appt at and she won't be weighed until the next one at 9 months so I have noo idea, ha. I'm guessing she's around 18/19lbs! She eats a TON of solids and has the sweetest thigh/arm/wrist rolls!

HEIGHT: Same as weight, I guess I could measure her but it takes too much effort, ha.

WEARS: She's in size 6-12 month clothing! I seriously can't get enough of her in rompers, dresses, bloomers and little tanks! How adorable is this gingham romper!? 

SLEEPS: She usually sleeps 11 hours straight from 7-6am, I then feed her and try to get her back to sleep for another hour but lately that has been hard, ha! I like it when she wakes me up at 6 because then I get some quiet time to myself BUT I don't want the whole gang waking up at 6am. Soooo I'm really hoping she'll just start sleeping that extra hour!

Here's her sleep schedule:
7am wake up nurse play eat breakfast
9am nap 1 (1-1.15 hours)
10:15am wake up nurse play go out eat lunch
1:00pm nap 2 (2 hours)
3:00pm wake up nurse play go out
5:00pm nurse dinner play
6:30pm bottle then bedtime routine
7pm bed

She's still napping like a champ! I shorten her morning nap so I can get some double nap action in the afternoon. Those two hours to myself are GLORIOUS!

HIGHS: Taking her to NYC was so memorable. It was seriously so special to have that one on one time with her. We experienced so much of the city together and it was so nice to spend some time with my brother and sister in law!!!

I also love her sweet personality. She's starting to babble more (still won't say dada, poor James!) And she's not afraid to tell you when she's happy or mad (just like her mama!)

Her and Luca's relationship is developing more and more and it is just the sweetest. He makes her laugh more than anyone else. Can't wait to see it grow even more. 

LOWS: Her sleep wasn't the greatest in NYC. We did not follow her normal schedule and she was napping on the go a lot so she woke up a couple times in the night. It made for one tired mama but other than that she's been a dream.

PARENTING: Like I said before, going to NYC with just London was such a treat. Obviously we missed Luca but we so appreciated the one on one time...especially James. It was so sweet to see them bonding so much. When you have older kids, it's pretty much impossible to give the babe 100% of your attention (because I need to be making sure Luca isn't falling into the ditches on our property or trying to escape through our hedges!!) 

POSTPARTUM: Still haven't gotten back on BBG :(  But I'm hoping to start this week. I have it all scheduled in so please keep me accountable! I'm a couple pounds lighter but I think it's from all the stress from our perimeter drains being redone and Luca catching HFM :/ 

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Our family shoot booked in June! We've hired our fave photog in Victoria, Rachael Alexandra and we're going to get some special photos of London and I. She's at the same age when I had these photos done with Luca so it will be so nice to have some of London and I!

XOXO,
Laura

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

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This post contains affiliate links.

Anyone else out there feel the need to remind their significant other about upcoming special occasions?? I think I've told my husband at least 4 times that Mother's Day is coming up verrrrry soon! 

Well if you're in the same boat as me, I made it really easy for your hubby...just pass this gift guide along! I rounded up some amazing gifts and hoping my hubby will see this *WINK WINK*

DYING over everything!

1. White Robe
2. Beautycounter Cream Blush- This is the one Jillian Harris swears by!!!
3. Rose Gold Fit Bit
4. Beautycounter Body Polish + Cream Set
5. Magnolia Cookbook- Cannot wait to get my hands on this one!!!
6. Mama + Baby Duck Necklace- How cute is this!!
7. Wychbury Ave Soap- Smells amazing!!

Hope all you mamas get spoiled because you all deserve it!!!

XO,
laura

LONDON ROSE // SIX MONTHS

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Baby girl is officially half a year old!!! I really, truly cannot believe it. The past six months have been a complete whirlwind and I'm really hoping time will slow down so I can enjoy some time with my baby before she turns ONE!

LONDON AT SIX MONTHS

WEIGHT: 17lbs 8oz....baby girl gained almost 3lbs since her last weigh in at 4 months! Her thigh rolls are seriously amazing!
We started her on solids at 5 months and she has fallen in love with food! 
I looked back on Luca's 6 month chart and he weighed 17.7..almost exactly the same!

HEIGHT: 26.5 inches...grew about two inches over the past two months. She's in the 85th % for height, so she's on the taller side but she has tiny feet!

WEARS: She's just started to grow out of her 3-6 month clothing...so sad :( But I have a lot of fun 6-12 numbers! I cannot wait for warmer weather to dress her in all her cute little dresses and rompers. How darling is the little romper she's wearing above? And how gorgeous is this little white dress? Shopping for a baby girl is seriously addicting!!

SLEEPS: Okay so from month 4-6 she was still waking up 1x a night somewhere between 4-6am...and some nights she would wake up twice (when dada forgot to put her in a night time diaper...) BUT last night she slept 6:45pm-6:45am STRAIGHT!!! So I'm realllly hoping she will continue that 12 hour straight thang and we won't have to night wean her. 

She is still fully sleep trained (goes down wide awake and puts herself to sleep) and we started to do a bottle before bed so she wouldn't be dependant on mama to put her to sleep. She finally started taking the bottle like a champ last month! She obvs prefers mama but she will drink some expressed milk/formula (between 2-4oz)...which makes me so happy because I can go out and not worry!

She loves THIS bottle best but still uses this one too.

She is a champion napper. In the past two months the only nap she has refused has been the last cat nap so we dropped that one. She sleeps for at least an hour for her morning and 1.5 hours for her afternoon nap. Honestly, I am soooo thankful she's been such a great napper. I've managed to overlap her and Luca's nap so I usually get about 1.5 hours to myself in the afternoon...which is GLORIOUS!!!!!!! 

Here's her new sleep schedule:
7am wake up nurse play eat breakfast
8:45am nap 1 (1-1.5 hours)
10:15am wake up nurse play go out eat lunch
12:45pm nap 2 (1.5-2.15 hours)
3:00pm wake up nurse play go out
5:00pm nurse dinner play
6:20pm bottle then bedtime routine
6:45/7pm bed

She's actually doing pretty well with the four hour wake time before bed! My goal is to stretch her a bit more during lunch to a 3 hour wake time.

HIGHS: Oh man, so many! Feeding her food for the first time was so awesome. She devoured it, just like her big bro did when he first had it! I guess we make good eaters, ha. She still lights up whenever Luca glances at her. He is her absolute favourite person (despite him trying to push her :( 

LOWS: The only low for me has been getting up to night feed her but honestly it's not that bad! She is such a happy baby. I was just telling my bestie tonight how full of joy she is. She rarely cries. She screams when we don't feed her fast enough and when she wakes up but it's more like HEY MA COME GET ME! 

PARENTING: She's such an easy baby if I stick with her schedule! She needs food, sleep and cuddles which sounds like the good life!! She's now sitting up and when she's on her tummy, she's starting to push her bum up...I'm not ready for her to start crawling!!! Our house is 100% baby proof but now I gotta watch for tiny things Luca leaves around!

Speaking of Luca, he's reallllllly testing my patience these days. All of a sudden he started pushing London :( He was so good with her, and I know it could be a phase but please send me your toddler tips!!! It just breaks my heart because she just ADORES him.

POSTPARTUM: Well I started BBG strong but then had a number of days where James was either working alot or working on church album or both which meant by the end of the night I was just tooo tired to function! I've cut sweets out until NYC and that has made a difference (down 3lbs) BUT I still want to get back on BBG next week when things aren't as hectic!

LOOKING FORWARD TO: NYC IN MAY!!!!! I honestly get giddy just thinking about the adventures we'll have....and only taking care of one child for 5 days, lols. Obviously we will miss Luca soooo much but we're very excited to create special memories with London, where she will have our full attention. This trip is going to be such a blessing!! And obvs can't wait to see my bro and sis in law!! Send us your NYC recommendations please!

I just adore you my London girl.

XOXO,
Laura