tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-179329732024-03-13T06:20:40.771-06:00Glowing LightKristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.comBlogger542125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-61150683784509765062012-01-02T06:56:00.002-07:002012-01-02T06:56:38.229-07:00The Blog Has Moved!In case you didn't know...the blog has moved!<br />
Alex has recreated my blog in <a href="http://glowinglightblog.squarespace.com/">squarespace</a>. Blogger has been a fun platform but it's time to move on, and Alex is a big fan of squarespace. My URL is still the same: <a href="http://www.glowinglightblog.com/">www.glowinglightblog.com</a><br />
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I hope you will continue to follow our adventures in 2012 over on the new blog, be sure to update your links so you don't miss a thing. I promise that 2012 is going to be an amazing year and I hope that we can continue to interact and grow together. Thanks for being faithful readers. I am always humbled when someone tells me that they read and enjoy my blog. Those words warm my heart. I'll see you over on the new blog! Be sure to drop a comment over there so I know you're still reading. :-) Be blessed, friends.Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-986175574867221712011-12-26T10:35:00.002-07:002011-12-26T10:35:30.901-07:00Liam's First ChristmasI have to say, Liam's first Christmas was a great success! He received many wonderful gifts (thank you to all!) and had so much fun with family. Alex and I love this little boy so much.<br />
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<i>How cute are we in our matching gray/black/green outfits??!!</i></div>
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We hope your Christmas was just as joyous as ours was. We're looking forward to the new year with all its blessings, challenges, victories, and changes. Life just keeps getting better and better. </div>
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<i>My handsome men. </i></div>
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<i>Mama and Baby.</i></div>
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<i>Look at those teefers!!!</i></div>
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-15870037263507739572011-12-25T06:11:00.003-07:002011-12-25T06:11:53.722-07:00Merry Christmas!The Acevedos are having a wonderful time with family and friends in Miami, but we wanted to drop in and wish you all a very Merry Christmas. It's hard to believe that last Christmas <a href="http://www.glowinglightblog.com/2010/12/our-christmas-surprise-for-new-year.html">we surprised everyone with the news that we were expecting</a>...and this year we have our handsome Liam with us to celebrate his first Christmas. What a blessing! <div>
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We pray that every single one of you enjoys this day to the fullest. Remember to celebrate the wonderful gift we have in Jesus. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%202:10-11&version=ESV"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24975Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">the people.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">For</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24976R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">unto you is born this day in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24976S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">the city of David</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24976T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">a Savior, who is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24976U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Christ</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-24976V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">the Lord."</span></a></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-48639901643466077472011-12-24T08:07:00.003-07:002011-12-24T08:07:52.447-07:00Guest Blog: Christmas DIY Gifts<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>While I'm off enjoying vacation I lined up some guest bloggers to share their Christmas themed posts with you. Up next is my awesome friend, Steph. We became friends in high school physics class. She has beautiful hair, a winning personality, and more artistic talent than anyone I know. Here she shares some fun DIY projects for Christmas gifts. Enjoy!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hello everyone! I'm Stephanie and I'm on a budget. haha I love giving gifts. I love finding things for everyone dear to me. This year, it can't happen. Its reality. Kinda sucks, but it forces me to get a little creative. Reading through my google reader helps with the inspiration. DIY. It always saves the day. Of course you have to set some time apart to get it all done nicely.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I recently made a book for a couple's wedding. It came out awesome. I'm really proud of it honestly. You can make one too! Here are some pics of the process. Here's a step by step on how to make another kind of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://curiouslycrafty.wordpress.com/tutorials/">book</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. Be warned...its a bit overwhelming, but if you've got the patience, do it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5zq_B55W9Q/TvXopgzPNgI/AAAAAAAAAW4/bhGVK6z0ggM/s1600/IMG_5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5zq_B55W9Q/TvXopgzPNgI/AAAAAAAAAW4/bhGVK6z0ggM/s400/IMG_5774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here are other DIY I found at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://shopruche.com/homemade-holiday.html">Ruche blog</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. They look adorable and easy!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">These two images pretty much go hand in hand. You can make someone a snow globe! I'm pretty sure they'll love it. Who makes snowglobes??? Nobody, and for you to make one for them will make them feel special.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2n8QoycS28/TvXp0zvgfNI/AAAAAAAAAXE/glTMyWeWXaA/s1600/felt+flowers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2n8QoycS28/TvXp0zvgfNI/AAAAAAAAAXE/glTMyWeWXaA/s640/felt+flowers.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This DIY is for making Votives or candleholders. Depending on which container you use. You can make a set of candleholders for a couple! They can use it for any occasion around the home, as a tablescape, etc. I'm in love with it. I'm planning on making some for New Year's!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This final one is those of you (including myself) who plan on baking goods as gifts. I love cupcakes! Presentation is important. It's what makes a cupcake a gift instead of an everyday ordinary treat (i have cupcakes a lot haha). The ladies at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/">Red Velvet</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">had this great idea. They even included a little recipe!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hope you all have a great holiday! DIY it up! <3</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span>Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-17240532811654926462011-12-23T07:14:00.000-07:002011-12-23T07:14:36.912-07:00Guest Blog: Have Yourself a Crafty Little Christmas<i>While I'm off enjoying vacation I lined up some guest bloggers to share their Christmas themed posts with you. Next up we have Chanti. I've known Chanti since our high school days and I so admire the woman she has become. She's giving and self-less and creative and talented to boot. You must check out her <a href="http://ohchanti.wordpress.com/">blog</a> and say hello.</i><br />
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Hello, I'm Chanti from "<a href="http://ohchanti.wordpress.com/">Live Freely</a>"!<br />
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Thank you, Kristel, for inviting me to share a little post on your blog. I live in Miami, FL with my family and 2 dogs, Xena & Rainer. I love coffee, tea, ice cream, books, films, nice people, Jesus and adventures. I'll stop rambling now and get to the good stuff. So, without further ado ... here are a few things that make me terribly happy during Christmas.<br />
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<b>DIY Crafts! </b><br />
DIY Bright lights. This is a great, fun craft for the holiday season. Who doesn't want to have brighter lights than their neighbor? I mean, seriously.<br />
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<b>That’s a Wrap!</b><br />
There's nothing like seeing beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree. I love getting creative when it comes to wrapping gifts. I guess there's just something so sweet about personalizing each package.<br />
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<b>Tis the Season to Look Lovely!</b><br />
So… I can’t say I typically prance around in glitter and heels but, for some reason, the holidays just seem like the perfect time to try something different and fun. Check these outfits out for a little inspiration.<br />
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<b>Everything Christmas! </b><br />
Finally, there’s nothing greater than filling every moment with Christmas cheer and details. These are some favorite things …<br />
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Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! Be love, be joy, be happiness for someone who may not be as blessed as you this holiday season.<br />
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xx.<br />
Oh ChantiKristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-38102865691842794912011-12-22T12:56:00.000-07:002011-12-23T06:56:29.647-07:00Guest Blog: Christmas Decor DIY<i>While I'm enjoying vacation time I lined up some guest bloggers to share their Christmas themed posts with you. Today we have Megan sharing all about some great Christmas decorating tips. I always love the way Megan decorates her house for all the different seasons and holidays. It's definitely inspired me to decorate my own home. Enjoy!</i><br />
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When Kristel asked me to guest blog for her, I immediately had the idea of sharing all of my pictures of Liam. Sure, they aren't the same quality as Alex and Kristel's pictures of their sweet guy but who wouldn't want to see more pictures of Liam?? Is he not absolutely adorable? I figured it would be best to refrain from doing that, so instead I will share some of my own tips for doing Christmas decorations on a budget.
-Try to use what you already own and then incorporate cheap Christmas goodies. For this idea I used a white appetizer plate, votive candles, and candy canes. I already had the votive candles (from showers that I have thrown) and the white appetizer plate came with my dishes. The candy canes are the cheap Christmas goody that I'm talking about here. Candy canes are pretty cheap at around $2 for 2 dozen or so. This is true decorating on a budget people!
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jDDJc-kK_5GgDBTv_R58Miip8t0UuyAcPEOSFlaCLMGQxj9huiCC8Xkc69ZauFILlyBFtjIygYMfyoPYx4Nv7gCFKJIaKjjzntP_y2CI1VX5XreFI8UN25acRCo05OCC5oT4Fg/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jDDJc-kK_5GgDBTv_R58Miip8t0UuyAcPEOSFlaCLMGQxj9huiCC8Xkc69ZauFILlyBFtjIygYMfyoPYx4Nv7gCFKJIaKjjzntP_y2CI1VX5XreFI8UN25acRCo05OCC5oT4Fg/s320/IMG_1057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688292837484017362" border="0" /></a>
-Another cheap Christmas item that you can decorate with is Christmas ornaments. I would pick a color scheme and run with it! Some people love silver and white together and some people like non-traditional colors together like pinks and greens and I really like plain old red and green together. Most craft stores will have their ornament sets for 50% off at some point before Christmas so it's a good idea to stock up when there is a sale. I have seen people decorate with lots of ornaments in one vase (like I did) or several small vases with a single ornament in each one. There are lots of directions you could go with this but decorating with ornaments is pretty budget friendly.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TVEcyvSlHEDlQ67RzUUOBx_UKi7Ao3DPNWgAsZZrILJznEwRxMaGQuL9WPNVgnC6t4MuojDpDbqv1Yw0Ez9i_valH1EFRXe4mvpYoeKLYRvvjquZwvqaON0qDo2qIAJ_LKh1ew/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TVEcyvSlHEDlQ67RzUUOBx_UKi7Ao3DPNWgAsZZrILJznEwRxMaGQuL9WPNVgnC6t4MuojDpDbqv1Yw0Ez9i_valH1EFRXe4mvpYoeKLYRvvjquZwvqaON0qDo2qIAJ_LKh1ew/s320/IMG_1058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688292648917087474" border="0" /></a>-Stock up on ornaments and stick them in whatever type vases or bowls that you have. Goodwill is a great place to find vases and jars of all sizes.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbii0508Y3fmCYIc4NDQMKKvQmtd0YY8XySWmsR3hd5aaF4TkA-ooRk6BiKGvipoRjLd3dpdWs9WAuKNUmt58rjpf5k03GPBFyNvhGFE-ydmRY8mWQpcP0sFymL0xFsefIeQIrUg/s1600/IMG_1066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbii0508Y3fmCYIc4NDQMKKvQmtd0YY8XySWmsR3hd5aaF4TkA-ooRk6BiKGvipoRjLd3dpdWs9WAuKNUmt58rjpf5k03GPBFyNvhGFE-ydmRY8mWQpcP0sFymL0xFsefIeQIrUg/s320/IMG_1066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688292622707585426" border="0" /></a>
-Know what else is cheap and really Christmasy looking?? Bows! I just carried my color scheme right on over when I picked out my bows. I found a bag of bows for $3.50. I threw about 30 or so candy canes in the other apothecary jar so that was probably another $4 or so.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-aQTYcJG5Fh7bozZ0djFTqVMXdO-BQa7cadbDveQRHBJlzuLew2y3ryssXMEYYzpOMRTv8hxvKlmXIZe2pFdLefXKFvL4IOQ8Ro0rTkBS-WUaQWDnT7VtpCumXA31tfbqQbbmw/s1600/IMG_1059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-aQTYcJG5Fh7bozZ0djFTqVMXdO-BQa7cadbDveQRHBJlzuLew2y3ryssXMEYYzpOMRTv8hxvKlmXIZe2pFdLefXKFvL4IOQ8Ro0rTkBS-WUaQWDnT7VtpCumXA31tfbqQbbmw/s320/IMG_1059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688292640957181762" border="0" /></a>
-Decorate with cranberries! I bought 2 bags of cranberries ($5 total) and threw them in these hurricane jars with candles. These are on my dining room table. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbii0508Y3fmCYIc4NDQMKKvQmtd0YY8XySWmsR3hd5aaF4TkA-ooRk6BiKGvipoRjLd3dpdWs9WAuKNUmt58rjpf5k03GPBFyNvhGFE-ydmRY8mWQpcP0sFymL0xFsefIeQIrUg/s1600/IMG_1066.jpg">
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o1lUpa5zf_w8ygz3pnqKPybnYUUOF6S0c3oQPwgdnRAk8hPXlG4OeB-z68RKG9PigUu8Nzxc2jk0MiNc4wZRBmxABSw20gTSAwuItH-gCvTbvS33lNwkjZQsotY1gtZU7vF9KQ/s1600/IMG_1061.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o1lUpa5zf_w8ygz3pnqKPybnYUUOF6S0c3oQPwgdnRAk8hPXlG4OeB-z68RKG9PigUu8Nzxc2jk0MiNc4wZRBmxABSw20gTSAwuItH-gCvTbvS33lNwkjZQsotY1gtZU7vF9KQ/s320/IMG_1061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688292631934546338" border="0" /></a>-If you choose to stay on budget with the majority of your items then you can splurge a little bit on a few things-I chose these kitchen towels and pillow. I would figure out what you want to splurge on and plan around that if you are decorating for the first time. If you decorate with candy canes and cranberries, you might not feel so bad about spending a little extra on a couple of things : )
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYcxnVTzkuEhaVpy-mBu_WEr6_K9Rc7zCz3LuL_KcBOE2j120Oo7Kh_G6UpQr1wRJM5UG290vVmpsrnUfb6HuZOrSaa8BRdMpB9JJQGOYMlbCdw6gn-nRD_oC6OsTXxF0ugfgsA/s1600/IMG_1064.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYcxnVTzkuEhaVpy-mBu_WEr6_K9Rc7zCz3LuL_KcBOE2j120Oo7Kh_G6UpQr1wRJM5UG290vVmpsrnUfb6HuZOrSaa8BRdMpB9JJQGOYMlbCdw6gn-nRD_oC6OsTXxF0ugfgsA/s320/IMG_1064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688292619563586530" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy27kX5FXIf6xq16-_Y7GLp9iQd9fQbfAG2Zv8ulHvabY2zCFhDTyx4Uv1rEDNdHistCn1ZKa7Zz2yflratMFGHO3BQqXV9JhuJwTjDzknc4yXthfPCn6h7HA0e_YPc3wdpZK8mA/s1600/IMG_1065.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy27kX5FXIf6xq16-_Y7GLp9iQd9fQbfAG2Zv8ulHvabY2zCFhDTyx4Uv1rEDNdHistCn1ZKa7Zz2yflratMFGHO3BQqXV9JhuJwTjDzknc4yXthfPCn6h7HA0e_YPc3wdpZK8mA/s320/IMG_1065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688291853776212754" border="0" /></a>I absolute love decorating for Christmas but even more than that I love staying under budget when I decorate. So, figure out the colors that you like and run with it! You can easily have a very Christmasy looking home for the holidays without having to spend a ton of money. Thanks for reading! Head on over to <a href="http://ourlittleurbanlife.blogspot.com/">Our Little Urban Life</a> and say Hi! I'd love to hear from you!
And just because I can't help myself, here is a picture of Liam I took when I was babysitting. He's just too cute for me to not include a picture.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNClZCrJRegXSaRsrO9Pq5bxTxTD_VNE-QNto16PzreJZalPpTK1bc-wZlN437INaiTFLFQgXfGoutqLSU51pyU3oC8-oANbEFtHBpka2SkgCKYd8kwcRCbm5Kstew1uIxsThvA/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNClZCrJRegXSaRsrO9Pq5bxTxTD_VNE-QNto16PzreJZalPpTK1bc-wZlN437INaiTFLFQgXfGoutqLSU51pyU3oC8-oANbEFtHBpka2SkgCKYd8kwcRCbm5Kstew1uIxsThvA/s320/IMG_0861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688305912253148690" border="0" /></a>Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-32909985372810821162011-12-19T23:07:00.000-07:002011-12-19T23:08:07.200-07:00Julian SantiagoOn Friday, December 16th, in the wee hours of the morning, my nephew was born. His name is Julian and he is beautiful. I was able to go see him on Saturday and Sunday and I can't believe how tiny he is! As I held him I tried to remember Liam when he was that small. At four months Liam weighs double what Julian does now. Crazy how fast they grow!<br />
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I am so happy for my sister and brother-in-law. They have an amazing journey ahead of them and they're going to rock this parenting thing. Congratulations to the new mama and papa! We love you, Julian.<br />
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-10785950407188109002011-12-19T09:00:00.000-07:002011-12-23T06:56:17.168-07:00Guest Blog: Oh, Christmas Tree<i>While I'm off enjoying vacation time I have a few guest bloggers lined up to share their Christmas themed posts with you. Next up, Lauren of Becoming Vanderburg. She and her husband moved out to Denver shortly after we did to help out with our church plant. Enjoy her post! </i><br />
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Hey Glowing Light readers! This is <a href="http://becomingvanderburg.blogspot.com/">Lauren</a>, another crazy one who moved to cross-country to Denver this year with the Acevedos and <a href="http://www.summitdenver.org/">the Summit</a>. Since Kristel’s soaking up the sunshine and warmth of South Florida, I’m sharing a few thoughts on Christmas.<br />
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During our move from North Carolina, there was much that got tossed. One thing that did not was our Christmas tree stand. I grew up in Central Florida, and I remember my parents using this particular stand year after year to hold a live tree. Being that we lived in a warm climate, my family clung to feelings of “a traditional Christmas,” including a live tree. Thus – the stand. This particular stand held a wonderfully pine-scented, living tree by clamping the trunk in a red, metal bowl. It was held up by three green legs that screwed into the trunk. You know the kind, right? When my family moved from Florida to Tennessee, the stand went with. Dad’s traditional yells, foul language and general discontent about the stand also made it to Tennessee. Yet, we persisted. Christmas traditions, right? ;)<br />
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After college, when I moved out on my own, my parents “gifted” me with that Christmas tree stand so I could have a tree of my own in my apartment. For four years in North Carolina, the stand served me well with no fuss or muss. Why wouldn’t we take it to Colorado with us?<br />
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Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. My husband, knowing my Christmas tradition of a live tree, took me to pick one out the Saturday after Thanksgiving. At 11:30 at night. That’s when The Christmas Tree Debacle of 2011 began.<br />
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<b>1st mistake:</b> Picking out a tree after normal tree-hours from a grocery store. None of the workers there knew how to re-bundle a tree after looking at it, so we just chose a tree that was still tied up and prayed it would work. It didn’t.<br />
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<b>2nd mistake:</b> Not bringing the stand with us to see if the tree would fit in it. It wouldn’t.<br />
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<b>3rd mistake:</b> Spending hours on Sunday afternoon sawing the trunk to try and fit it into the stand. We wanted to use the few daylight hours left of the weekend, so sandwiched between family leaving and going to church, we began to work on that Christmas tree.<br />
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Once we realized the trunk was too fat to fit in the stand, we began sawing off portions to wedge it into the stand. For 2 hours, I laid across the tree, which was laid across our deck furniture, holding it steady while Adrian sawed and sawed and sawed. Four big chunks made the trunk small enough, and after much ado – it was time.<br />
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<b>4th mistake:</b> We screwed the tree into the stand. Technically, we screwed two screws, and drove a long nail into the third leg, since we realized too late we had lost a screw in the move. That proved to be a costly mistake.<br />
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It wasn’t until after we had moved the tree inside and set it upright in the stand that we realized all the sawing had made the trunk lopsided. The tree wouldn’t stay up. Even tied up and leaning against the wall, there was no hope. Once again, we drug it outside to the deck to remove the tree from the stand and rectify the situation. Unfortunately, the 6-inch long nail didn’t come out from the trunk as easily as the two screws did. We wiggled and pried and tried our darndest. No use. Tree and stand were stuck together like dogs after mating (that’s for you, Kristel ;) So, Adrian spent another hour sawing off the bottom of the trunk (and the stand that was rigidly attached to it).<br />
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<b>5th mistake:</b> Repeating the third mistake. After much pounding and prying, we finally separated the stand from the lopsided part of the trunk. After church on Sunday, and after daylight was long gone, we were back on the deck – respectively holding the tree steady and sawing the trunk to make it small enough for the stand again.<br />
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<b>6th mistake</b>: Using three nails to hold the trunk and stand together. Since we had bent the legs prying the trunk and stand apart earlier, we figured three nails would work better than two screws and a nail. We were, once again, wrong.<br />
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<b>7th mistake:</b> Taking the tree (still bundled up) back inside the apartment.<br />
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<b>8th mistake:</b> Thinking if we just untied the tree maybe it would balance itself and would stand upright. It didn’t.<br />
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After literally hours upon hours spent sawing and wedging and prying that dang tree into that dang stand – it still wouldn’t cooperate. At some point in hour 4 or so, I heard that same Christmas tree stand elicit the same kind of language from my husband as it had from my father. Ah, traditions. Unlike my traditional family Christmas experience though – we admitted defeat in the VanderHouse. There was no way that tree was going to work with that stand. It just wouldn’t.<br />
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Tuesday night, Adrian once again picked up the tree and moved it to the deck. He once again sawed the trunk off to separate it from the stand. He once again pried the nails out of the sawed-off trunk. We threw the tree into the bed of our truck and, after all of it – we returned the tree to the store. We threw away the severely mangled Christmas tree stand that had been in my family for years. We got a new, smaller Christmas tree and we found a new, sturdier stand at the store. We tested the tree in the stand before we ever left the parking lot, and once we knew it would stand upright – we brought it all home. No sawing required.<br />
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I’m thankful to tell you we have been enjoying our fully-functional Christmas tree for a couple of weeks now. We’ve also kept part of the old tree – one of the many 5-inch sections of the sawed-off trunk – as a reminder. It’s sitting on our counter, nail still sticking out of it, and I’m reminded that sometimes – a square trunk won’t fit into a round hole, no matter how many ways you slice it.Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-59846967456725591642011-12-16T00:54:00.000-07:002011-12-16T00:54:33.180-07:00Guest Blog: Don't Let Awkward Family Christmas Photos Happen to You!<br />
<i>While I'm off enjoying vacation time with my family I have a few guest bloggers lined up to share their Christmas themed posts with you. First up is my dear friend, <a href="http://merari.com/">Merari</a>. She's a talented photographer based in Miami, FL but she loves to travel. You should definitely book her to shoot your next big event...especially if it's an exotic destination wedding.</i><br />
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It's that time of year again. Sleighbells ring, snow is glistening, Starbucks has fancy flavored coffee. yay! It's also that time when everyone sends family photo christmas cards to loved ones. They're kinda like the cool, short version of old-school family newsletters: "Dear ____, this is what we look like this year! Merry Christmas! Love, us"<br />
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I've had the comedic pleasure of seeing some incredibly horrible family photos.<br />
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Photos from <a href="http://Awkwardfamilyphotos.com/">Awkwardfamilyphotos.com</a></div>
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Need I say more? Now these are all lovely, loving families who have had horrible pictures happen to them.<br />
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Don't let that happen to you!<br />
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I'm here to share some important awkward-saving tips for your own Christmas family portraits.<br />
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Tip #1. As a professional photographer, I may be biased on this one, but I can attest to the investment of hiring a professional.<br />
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Do you research and hire someone you can trust to capture your family in a genuine way. I know the Holidays are money-spending days, but it's worth it. No one ever regrets hiring someone awesome to take pictures of their family. If you don't know any photographers, ask friends, or use Google, Facebook and even Pinterest to find a photographer whose style you like and personality you click with.<br />
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Tip #2. The days of matching Christmas sweater vests are over! Unless you're into their ironic hipster use, it's best to steer clear. Wear something comfortable and flattering. If you're feeling awkward, it will show. If you'd like to be coordinated, you can have a color palette and pick outfits based on that. It'll look great in pictures! You can even get creative and bring some props.<br />
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For example, Rey, Lauren and Zoe did a primary color palette and added balloons. Very cute and un-awkward!<br />
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Tip #3. Have fun! If you're feeling awkward and self-conscious, it will show. If your kids are not into posing, it's okay! This is why you got a professional who can work around them and get great candids.<br />
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We've all had embarrassing, awkward photos taken of us (I had to pay my mom to stop showing them to friends). With these few tips, you can leave those days behind and make your loved ones unashamed of putting your Christmas card on the fridge.Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-6014898864643168012011-12-12T17:56:00.001-07:002011-12-12T17:56:43.952-07:00Christmas Came EarlyLiam and I will soon be off to Miami (yeah, I'm gonna get on a plane...alone...with a teething baby... Pray for me, folks!) so we decided to celebrate Christmas as our little family of four just a little bit early. We opted to just do stocking stuffers this year so we all had fun seeing what sweet little gifts we had all gotten for each other. <div>
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Can't wait to celebrate with our family in Miami!<br /><div>
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</div>Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-42413708894973682812011-12-12T07:55:00.002-07:002011-12-12T07:55:43.329-07:00teething?Well, it seems like our Little Man is cutting some teeth. This could explain some of the sleeping issues we've been having. We were hanging out in bed this morning when he grabbed my finger and stuck it in his mouth (as is his usual practice these days) but this time I felt something kind of hard and sharp. So I pulled back his lips and you can kind of see two little white teeth starting to poke through the gums. Talk about big boy status!<br />
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Alex and I tried to take a photo and this is the best we could get:<br />
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<i>Can you see it?</i></div>
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Now what?? I guess I'll call his pediatrician later today to see what recommendations they have. So congratulations, Liam, on your first two teeth. Hopefully some day we'll all sleep again and you'll have a gorgeous toothy grin.<br />
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-45746671952813182432011-12-11T11:22:00.001-07:002011-12-11T11:37:56.912-07:00sleep training?Well, Liam's sleeping has been getting worse and worse. He wakes up frequently throughout the night and it's not always because he's hungry. Sometimes he just doesn't feel like sleeping, I guess. We've been trying to be consistent with a bedtime routine and for about a week we've been successfully getting him to bed before 8 o'clock with no fussing...except for last night. He was not wanting to go to sleep. And when he finally went to sleep he kept waking up every two hours like clock work. ::SIGH::<br />
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I'm wondering if we should do some sleep training...maybe try transferring him to his crib to sleep at night. Here's the thing...I'm not into the "cry it out" method. I'd like to try a gentler approach. I will only resort to "cry it out" if absolutely necessary. I'm also not going to start him on cereal until six months of age. I know a lot of people say to give your baby cereal at night to make him sleep longer...but I've read that this is a myth. Is it? Either way, our pediatrician suggests exclusive breastfeeding for six months and I am in full agreement.<br />
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I'm not expecting him to sleep 12 hours straight right away. The fact of the matter is that he is exclusively breastfed and that means he digests his milk faster than formula, which means he gets hungry sooner. I'm okay with a night feeding or two until he starts solids but this is getting ridiculous. I know he's not always waking up because he's hungry.<br />
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So let me hear it, mamas and papas. How have you helped your little one sleep better at night? I'm so nervous about doing any kind of sleep training...but I need my rest! Thanks, friends.<br />
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<i>Check me out in my doggie jam jams!</i></div>
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<i>Such an angel when he's actually asleep. ;-)</i></div>
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-82198109532434272192011-12-08T17:24:00.001-07:002011-12-08T17:45:52.133-07:00Kreativ Blogger AwardMy friend, <a href="http://scarbrough-fair.blogspot.com/2011/11/kreativ-blogger.html">Michelle</a>, passed on the Kreativ Blogger Award to me a few weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to saying THANKS. And now I'm supposed to list seven random things about myself. Here we go...<br />
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<ol>
<li>I was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras while my parents were fleeing Nicaragua and coming to the United States. </li>
<li>I had lasik eye surgery when I was 21...by the time I was 25 I was wearing glasses again. Lame.</li>
<li>I have lived in Miami, FL, Raleigh, NC, and Denver, CO. </li>
<li>My favorite color is always changing. I think right now it's teal. </li>
<li>I have a hard time liking new music. It takes me a while to warm up to it. So, no, I probably haven't heard of that new band or that new song from that old band. Sorry, hipsters and music snobs.</li>
<li>Tres leches is my favorite dessert...I'm pretty sure. But only when my grandma makes it. :-)</li>
<li>I love watching movies and tv shows. Looove it. I find it annoying when people brag about never watching tv. I like tv and I don't care who knows it. </li>
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There you go. Seven random things. Thanks again for the award, Michelle. I would like to pass this award to some of the most creative ladies I know: <a href="http://stephanddannycanto.blogspot.com/">Steph</a> and <a href="http://dearwhimsy.blogspot.com/">Tammie</a>. </div>Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-14606668269781487642011-12-04T12:21:00.001-07:002011-12-05T09:27:56.065-07:00four monthsFour. Months. Old. For some reason that seems so old to me. Liam continues to amaze me with how much he is learning on a daily basis. Over the past couple of weeks he has rolled from belly to back several times and from back to belly twice. He's vocal as can be and sometimes his little screams are so loud! He loves to talk with his grandparents and tia on FaceTime. He's starting to actually stay awake on outings. I took him to the aquarium and he was fascinated with all the fish. He still loves bath time. He's starting to splash the water with his legs and laugh while doing it. He's not sleeping through the night, not even close! The longest he sleeps for is 3.5 hours, on a good night! And then he's pretty much up every two hours. So I am one tired mama.<br />
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He's a little drool monster, but I can't feel any teeth coming in yet. I don't think we're going to start solids with him just yet. I'm planning on waiting until he's six months but we'll see. If he's ready before then, we may start. Right now I just don't think he's ready. Besides, he gets everything he needs from his mommy milk. ;-)<br />
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-66304613661860073262011-12-01T09:32:00.001-07:002011-12-01T09:56:27.317-07:00christmas traditionsI've mentioned before that I would like to start some fun family traditions now that Liam is in the picture. I want him to have special memories of the holidays. So I've been thinking about what we could do for Christmas...and I'm at a loss! Alex and I started doing stocking stuffers since we got married, which is fun because neither one of us grew up with stockings as a part of our Christmases. I like filling up his stocking with cute inexpensive gifts. So that's something we will continue to do with Liam (and Jaxon of course!). And then I read on <a href="http://www.earlymama.com/2011/11/29/starting-traditions/">earlymama.com</a> that they do not want to get a bunch of useless gifts for their son so every year they give him <b>something to read</b>, <b>something to wear</b>, and <b>something to play with</b>. I love that idea because I don't want Liam just getting a bunch of toys for Christmas. I would like him to grow up loving books the way I did and a practical (or just fun) clothing item is nice to get too. So Alex and I have decided that's something we would like to establish with Liam and any future children.<br />
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But what else? Any other fun Christmas traditions out there? I'd like to continue my family's tradition of staying up until midnight on Christmas Eve to open gifts (as opposed to waking up early on Christmas morning) and I'm not sure how I feel about Santa Claus. I'm certainly not anti-Santa, but I just don't see him as a necessary part of Christmas. I don't remember believing in Santa growing up. My parents always said our gifts were brought by <i>el niñito Dios</i>. So we'll see where we go with that one. We'll probably take him to get his photo taken with Santa this year...just for fun. :-)<br />
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What fun Christmas traditions do you have in your family? Any suggestions for the Acevedos?<br />
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<i>By the way, it's snowing today! Happy December to all!</i></div>
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-52927116652752655232011-11-29T09:33:00.001-07:002011-11-29T09:41:57.801-07:00baby travel tipsSoon Liam and I will get on a plane headed towards Miami. I am so excited to finally introduce him to so many that are near and dear to our hearts. I think my aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends will just go crazy over this little guy.<br />
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As excited as I am, I'm also terrified to get on a plane...alone...with a baby. I know I'll have to breastfeed at some point during the plane ride and those seats are so small and close together. I'm hoping he won't have a fit on the plane. That would be so embarrassing and annoying for the other travelers. And how will he handle the two hour time difference? I already decided I'm checking our luggage because I cannot handle keeping track of our bags and making sure he's okay. And thankfully I won't have to bring a car seat, stroller, etc because I'll be borrowing those items from my sister. So I figure I'll take Liam in his baby carrier. Any other tips from seasoned traveling mamas out there?? What must have items should I include in his diaper bag? What are some good soothing techniques? What's the best way to keep him from getting sick? How can I prepare him for the plane trip and the time change? <b>How do I keep myself sane?!? </b>:-)<br />
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Thanks in advance for your responses!<br />
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Liam stretching his <i>dedos de gallina</i> after nap time. </div>
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-33384425735112673152011-11-28T10:25:00.000-07:002011-11-28T10:25:59.695-07:00First Family Photo SessionOn Thanksgiving Day Alex's <a href="http://www.jessicanchristie.com/">co-worker</a>, who captured <a href="http://www.glowinglightblog.com/2011/07/another-maternity-shoot.html">these lovely images</a>, took us up to Boulder to have our first family portrait session with Little Liam. We wanted to go for a folk-y, rustic look with the mountains in the background. Jessica did a great job! Especially considering Liam wasn't in the best of moods. I can't wait to choose one of these photos for our Christmas card this year.<br />
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Thanks Jessica!<br />
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-5466719037328863682011-11-24T10:23:00.001-07:002011-11-24T10:26:54.287-07:00happy thanksgivingWanted to write a quick post wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
This time last year I was already pregnant...I just didn't know it yet.<i> [Denial?? Haha]</i><br />
Now we have been blessed with this wonderful little turkey. We are so thankful!<br />
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Hope you all have a great day celebrating with loved ones. I can't wait to stuff my face!<br />
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-88044570541712608482011-11-21T09:41:00.001-07:002011-11-21T09:46:27.626-07:00mom hairHello. My name is Kristel Acevedo and I have mom hair. I always said I wouldn't fall into the "ponytail rut," but here I am. How did this happen? It seems that I have a lot less time to groom myself these days. Don't get me wrong, I haven't turned into a slob. I still shower everyday and put on real clothes, even if it's almost always jeans and a v-neck t-shirt. I put on a little blush and mascara to try and mask my exhaustion. And everyday I brush my hair into a messy ponytail or bun. I'm stuck. I don't have time to blow dry and iron my hair. My hair isn't long enough to braid. And I'm not very skilled in the hair styling department anyway so I have no inspiration. I had decided that I wanted to grow my hair out <i>[it seems I'm constantly in the process of growing my hair out]</i> but now I'm thinking it may be easier to cut it all off. It'll be easier to style that way and I can get away from this ponytail rut.
What say you, blog readers? To cut or not to cut? Any other solutions from hair style experts out there?<br />
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P.S. It's scary how much my hair falls out these days?! They weren't lying about that post-pregnancy symptom. It's a wonder I'm not bald already.Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-53870267616333640612011-11-15T12:38:00.001-07:002011-11-15T12:56:19.256-07:00BabyConnectI've been meaning to write a post about the <a href="http://www.baby-connect.com/">BabyConnect</a> app and now I finally have the time! I have to say that I love this app. Some people may think I'm neurotic, but I'm honestly not. It is just a big help to me since my memory fails me a lot these days and I didn't know much about babies prior to Liam being born.<br />
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This app, which I use on my iPad and iPhone, keeps track of everything! How often Liam eats and for how long. How many wet/poopy diapers. How much he's sleeping. Weight gain. How much I pump. What milestones he's reaching. <i>Ev-er-y-thing.</i> Sometimes when Liam is being crabby and I have no idea why, I'll look at the app and realize he's been awake for an hour and a half and is probably tired...or it's been two hours since he ate so he's probably hungry. I try to read his cues the best I can but when I'm lost or confused the app is a big help to me. It also helps me notice patterns. That's how I learned that when he's been up for more than an hour he gets cranky. That's how I learned that he sleeps an average of 8-9 hours a night (though certainly not in one block unfortunately!). That's how I learned that he can only go four hours from his last feeding of the night to his first feeding the next day (major bummer!). And that he's a once-a-week pooper.<br />
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I would definitely be lost without this app and will forever sing its praises! This app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android...and is also available on the web. I say if you're a new mommy you should download it ASAP.<br />
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And here are some cute photos of Liam, because it's not a complete blogpost without some Liam cute-ness.<br />
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<i>Gap jeans and H&M cardigan...this kid is stylin'!</i></div>
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<i>Playing with his o-ball.</i></div>
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<i>Rolling from back to side!</i></div>
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-78374875572817162962011-11-09T16:56:00.001-07:002011-11-09T16:56:53.107-07:00daylight savings time is dumbI've never been a fan of daylight savings time. What's the point? It just messes everything up. People get confused about what time it really is. And, sure, our phones and computers change time automatically, but what about the clocks in ovens, microwaves, cars...changing car clocks is the worst! And having a baby makes the time change even more annoying. Liam never got the memo and his nighttime schedule has been all outta whack. Poor guy has no idea what's going on.<br />
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So this is just my little rant. Abolish daylight savings time! It's dumb.<br />
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<i>I love this guy. Even with all the lack of sleep.</i></div>
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-45713464898838289572011-11-05T08:29:00.001-06:002011-11-05T08:29:16.960-06:00three monthsToday Liam is three months old! That's halfway to six months! Which is halfway to a year! Which means soon he'll be off to college! My sweet little man is growing up before my very eyes. I read <a href="http://blogs.babble.com/kid-scoop/2011/11/04/mother-son-relationships/">this article</a> yesterday and it totally resonated with me. I never imagined myself with a son but now that I have one I am head over heels in love.<br />
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At three months Liam is developing quite rapidly. He is starting to reach out to his toys and grab them. The first time he did it I was so excited! I took pictures and put them on instagram, twitter, and facebook! I just had to share with the world. Now when I put him on his activity mat he swats at the animals hanging down. I know it sounds like nothing. I think before I had kids I wouldn't have been very impressed but just seeing how he's gone from this floppy tiny little baby to this boy who is grabbing toys all by himself in just three months...well, I can't help but be impressed. He is also starting to sit in his <a href="http://www.bumbo.com/">bumbo</a>. He looks so cute and grown up.<br />
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Liam is a very curious little boy. He likes to take in his surroundings. His eyes are always darting all around the room taking in every detail. He is smiling and laughing a lot too. When he wakes up in the morning and I say, "Hello, handsome. Good morning," he looks up to me and smiles. Melt my heart! He thinks Alex is just the most hilarious human being on the planet. Have you seen <a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10100200223632218">this video</a> of him laughing at daddy's funny voices? I love it.<br />
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Without further ado, here is Liam's three month photo:<br />
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<i>He is rockin' those leg warmers!</i></div>
<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-44480496278285825042011-11-04T10:50:00.001-06:002011-11-04T10:50:27.054-06:00why I don't hate midnight feedingsPart of me really wishes Liam would sleep for 10 hours every night without disrupting me even once. I miss sleep, I crave sleep. But I get it. He's a baby. He's growing. He has a tiny belly that digests milk quickly and he needs to fill it up again. And despite missing out on some much needed sleep I really don't hate waking up in the middle of the night to feed my boy. I think those quiet and still moments where he's snuggled up to me are some of the sweetest moments I'll ever experience with him. This time I get to nurse him is so short in the grand scheme of things.<br />
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Also, it helps that he always goes right back to sleep when he's done eating. He looks so adorable when he stretches his little arms in the air. gives a little grunt, and drifts off to sleep. <i>[I, on the other hand, have been having a terrible time trying to get back to sleep. It's so frustrating! Any tips??]</i><br />
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As much as I enjoy those sweet moments with Liam I'd like to start stretching his nighttime sleep a little more...five or six straight hours of sleep would be amazing! I ordered "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Gentle-Through/dp/0071381392">The No-Cry Sleep Solution</a>" and started reading it. So far it seems pretty great, we'll see what happens when I start implementing the suggestions in the book. I ended up choosing this book over some others because I do not want to make Liam "cry it out" and I don't really want to impose a strict schedule on him. So again, we'll see what happens. Pray for us, friends. :-)<br />
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-87893560268724903012011-11-01T16:04:00.003-06:002011-11-01T16:04:57.275-06:00Sushi Baby!I love celebrating all of Liam's firsts, especially when it comes to holidays. It's so much fun to celebrate with him.<br />
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I wasn't going to dress him up for Halloween but at the last minute I got some scrap pieces of fabric and a hot glue gun and put together this little costume for our little man. He looked delicious!<br />
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I think next Halloween will be even more fun because we'll actually go trick-or-treating. I can't wait!</div>
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And here is our spray painted pumpkin family...</div>
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I'm already planning on how I want to decorate next year's pumpkins!</div>
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Hope everyone had a fun and candy-filled Halloween. </div>
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<br />Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17932973.post-80658756006805308202011-10-29T14:10:00.000-06:002011-10-29T14:16:48.685-06:00Liam's First SnowDenver weather is crazy. On Monday it was 80 degrees with sunny skies and on Wednesday we got our first snow of the season! It's mostly melted away by now and it's supposed to be in the 60s on Halloween.<br />
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Anyway, it was fun to introduce Liam to the snow. Alex had to go to work, but my friend, <a href="http://alifewellphotographed.wordpress.com/">Shannon</a>, came over and took a few pictures of Liam in the snow. I realized quickly that we're going to have to get him some more snow-appropriate clothing. Maybe a one-piece snow suit that covers his hands and feet...and some moccassin-type shoes to keep his little toes warm.<br />
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Anyway, here are the photos of Liam experiencing his first snow! Thanks for the photos, Shannon.<br />
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<i>"Uhh, mom, what's going on here? What's all this white stuff?"</i></div>
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<i>Chillin' in the snow.</i></div>
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<i>View from above. Those shoes were way too big and kept falling off.</i></div>
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<i>What a cute little eskimo. </i></div>
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<i>"Okay mom, let's get inside, it's cold out here!"</i></div>Kristelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15094250210700645439noreply@blogger.com2