Who's having more fun?

Andrew and Grandma...

Oooorrrr

Daddy and Grandma...

A boy and a paper bag...

Look out Lucy!! That's Andrew's bag!

Does parenting make you more or less happy?

I know that I'm only a little over a year into my title as "Parent," so perhaps I'm not the best judge of this, but... A recent article in The New Yorker, addressed this very question by looking at numerous studies to determine whether the benefits of having children, outweighs the costs. Most of the studies showed that people with kids are busier and more stressed - leading them to less happy with life than people without kids.

These studies... just didn't resonate with me. Perhaps its my "only YOU can make YOU happy" outlook on life. Perhaps its my "I refuse to be UNhappy attitude"... but parenting... has NOT made me a "less happy" person. Busier, yes. Stressed, yes.

Country Girl, Raisin' a Family in the Big City

I grew up in a rural area. My parent filled our acreage with a large garden and chickens roaming everywhere. When I move off to the “big city,” I assumed I had lost those “home grown” elements for good. It was only when I started my own family that I realized I needed to take a closer look at what we put in our bodies.

When Andrew was born over a year ago, I began making his baby food. I was amazed at how easy it was and how much money I was saving in the process! Now, we have moved on to a small home garden and compost barrel.

One of my biggest “ah-ha” moments was earlier this summer, when a plant started growing in our garden. It was NOT something we planted – it was a “volunteer”. As it grew, we realized it was an acron squash. The plant grew from the seeds I had cleaned out of a squash when making Andrew's food. We threw the seeds in the compost, and later, threw the compost in the garden – the plant grew all on its own!

What an amazing full circle.

"Eye Yove You"

Can you hear it!?!

"Cheeeeese!"

Andrew and his buddy Dane.