Valor

Before I sat down to write about this one I had to organize my thoughts because there are so many good things I could say about Valor! So I guess I'll start with the basics... Valor is an essential oil blend containing the following oils: Rosewood, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, and Spruce. The description in the EO desk reference says this, "Balances energies to instill courage, confidence, and self-esteem. It helps the body self-correct its balance and alignment." And I have found this to be true when we use Valor.

Although Valor came in my Everyday Oils kit I ordered around Thanksgiving, I didn't start using it until recently. All I can say about that, is that I wish I would have started using it sooner! I want to make the most of my oils and use them the best ways I can, so I've been doing more research lately. And when I learned Valor could help with confidence and courage, I immediately knew how I wanted to try it out.

My parents gave us a gym membership for Christmas (yay!) and I couldn't wait to start going. It was perfect timing to get serious about working off left over baby weight and we could all benefit from getting out of the house during this long winter. So we started going to the gym. I love working out, so that part has always been great. However, every morning we would go, my 3 year old would freak out when I brought him to the child care area. Screaming. Not letting go of me. Tears. Those tears break my heart. He loves playing with other kids and usually does great when we go places. But for some reason, he seemed to have heightened anxiety when we got to the gym. This went on for a couple weeks until I realized what Valor was, and that I already had it in my living room. So we gave it a try.

Jacob is used to me putting Thieves oil on the bottom of his feet every morning, so he didn't question when I told him I also needed to put a drop of oil on the back of his neck. I didn't want to tell him anything and risk throwing off my experiment! So off to the gym we went. We parked and went in, so far so good. The anxiety would always come once we got to the child care area. We walked in the nursery and he let me take his coat off and hang it up. I said, "Mommy's going to go exercise for a little bit and then I'll come right back for you, ok?" He said, "Ok, Mommy." Gave me a hug and a kiss and started playing. This threw me off! I just stood there for a minute, confused, yet proud. No melt down, no tears, and no clinging to me like he's never going to see me again.

I'm not going to lie, I was a little skeptical. Was this the oil really helping him? Or was his behavior just a coincidence? There was only one way to tell for sure, so I kept applying the Valor before we would go to the gym. We have now gone to the gym for 2 1/2 months without Jacob experiencing anxiety or break-downs. That makes this mama very happy :)

My friend Wendy told me that Valor is often referred to as "chiropractic in a bottle". After all, it does claim to help the body self-correct its alignment, right? I go to a (great!) chiropractor regularly, yet most of the time I would be hurting by the time my next weekly appointment would roll around. I could definitely tell the chiropractic care was helping in major ways, but my body just kept going back to the ruts it was used to. So after I found Valor to be such a help to Jacob, I decided to start using it myself. Before I left for an adjustment (I think it was just over a month ago), I applied one drop of Valor with a dab of coconut oil to the bottoms of my feet. My actual adjustment wasn't much different than other ones, but what surprised me was that I was able to go two weeks before my next appointment. I was nervous, because when my back starts hurting it often becomes difficult to accomplish day-to-day tasks without experiencing noticeable pain. So I went back after two weeks. I still needed an adjustment, but wasn't hurting like before. As a result, we've been able to cut our monthly chiropractic budget in half. This also makes me happy :)

Purification

'Tis the season for colds, germs, and stuffy houses. If my babies wouldn't freeze their little noses off, I would open the windows for some fresh air! In the mean time, I use Purification. This is an essential oil blend containing 6 oils: Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Myrtle. Purification cleanses and disinfects the air and neutralizes odors. Like most oils, you can use it three ways: apply, diffuse, inhale.
    Purification can be directly applied to your skin or diluted with a carrier oil, such as olive or coconut. So if you need to disinfect/cleanse cuts, scrapes, spider bites, or stings, simply put a couple drops onto a cotton ball and apply directly. I have also massaged Purification with coconut oil into the skin between my thumb and pointer finger, and on the pads of my feet. These places are directly connected to your sinuses and the quickest way I have found relief from a stuffy nose/sinuses.
    I love my diffuser. And this winter, Purification has probably seen it the most. Now that my 3 year old goes to preschool, we not only have our own germs, but also those from the other children he is with for the day. My favorite place to diffuse Purification is in the living room. We all spend a lot of time there and it's the main coming and going area. I diffused it for the first time when my 3 year old was developing a cold and quite congested. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty grossed out with the outcome... From breathing the air in the room where Purification was being diffused, his congestion lessened and everything loosened up and came out of his nose. Ew. I won't go into the detail of what it looked like or how often we blew his nose unless you ask ;)
    Inhalation. I absolutely love how you can benefit from the oils by simply breathing. Rubbing a couple drops between your palms and cupping your hands over your nose while you take deep breaths clears sinuses and kills some germs along the way. This may just be me, but I feel like it also perks up my senses and clears my head :)

Frankincense

I'm a practical girl, so if one product can serve many uses, you have my attention! Frankincense is one of my favorite oils for this reason. So I would like to share a few ways I enjoy it's benefits.

Frankincense has been here for a long time. In fact, it was given to Jesus as a gift when he was born. Since ancient times, Frankincense has been used in many religious ceremonies, and is still used in some churches today, which I think is pretty interesting. Because of its natural mood uplifting abilities, I often diffuse Frankincense in my living room. This oil has proven itself to be the fastest way to calm and balance my emotions. What if I'm on the go and don't have time to diffuse and enjoy? Twist the cap off and take some deep breaths. You can have the same benefit without actually using the oil. -Which is something I love about essential oils. And since Frankincense is among the pricier oils, I love that I'm able to benefit from it without worrying about using it up quickly.

(A little secret: even though visiting relatives can be great, I'm going to be honest and say it can also cause stress. So often I will toss my frankincense in the diaper bag so I have it when I need it :)

Frankincense has an excellent rejuvenating effect on skin through its ability to repair skin cells so I began using it on my breakout-prone face. After washing my face at night, I use one drop of Frankincense with a couple drops of olive oil and give myself a little face massage. After a couple weeks I noticed the wrinkles around my eyes were less noticeable. My complexion is brighter & if I break out, it is cleared up quickly. Although, since using the oils, especially Progessence Plus, I hardly break out anymore, which is awesome.

Do your joints get sore when the weather changes? Or do you have arthritis? Frankincense can really improve the bodys ability to manage inflammatory. When applied topically, Frankincense can sooth sore muscles, alleviate the discomfort of wounds, injuries, or pain. Simply use a drop or two and massage with a carrier oil (i.e. coconut or olive oil) into the area you need inflammation relief. It can even be used for relief of menstrual cramps. Add a couple drops to your bath and it can not only ease your cramps, but it supports your hormone system as a whole. Because of Progessence Plus and Frankincense, I no longer dread that time of the month. I feel like I have more days in the month now that I don't experience hormone headaches, cramps, or PMS. If you struggle with any of these and are looking for answers, I would love to show you how things can change :)

The New Norm

Women, tell me you know the feeling... The feeling that comes after having babies, hormonal changes, or menopause. Feelings of fear, hoping this is not the new you. Feeling out of control, when you are the one your kids or other people look to to be their rock. Or just being plain frustrated that you can't seem to get it together.

This was me after I had my first child nearly four years ago. It never really got better, but then baby number two came last spring. And things got worse. Hot flashes, cold sweats, mood swings, fatigue, memory problems, exhausted during the day and not sleeping well at night. I could talk for hours about the impact this made on my ability to parent well, to be a good wife, or to even put myself together. Was this what being a mom was going to be like? Was this my new norm that I had to get used to?

I went back and forth for awhile with the idea of postpartum depression. Could this be what was wrong with me? I felt like it was possible, but there just had to be something else going on, too. Like what was causing the depression? The mood swings? I thought, surely this doesn't have to be something I'm stuck with. And if you feel at all like I did, know that there is hope!

Last summer, I heard good things about using essential oils instead of OTC or prescription medications to heal and keep your body healthy. So in November, I invited some friends over and Wendy came to teach us about Young Living essential oils. One of the main topics we covered was hormones and how they can plummet after having kids, or be out of whack just because you're a woman. Many people have issues caused by imbalanced hormones and the first thing doctors try to do is prescribe a birth control pill. The Pill is hormones. So if you are lacking, that should be the answer, right? Not necessarily. The problem with the Pill is that it is a synthetic hormone. It is basically a chemical and our bodies don't know what to do with it. As a result, it can even make the problem worse.

Then I learned about a natural progesterone called Progessence Plus made by Young Living. It's a blend of oils specifically for women. The progesterone is oil extracted from wild yams; and since it comes from a natural source, our bodies know what to do with it. It is recognized as our own and immediately put to work for the good of our body. Accidentally put on a little too much? No problem, your body will use what is needed to maintain healthy levels and process the rest out. This is a huge difference between natural and synthetic. Because our bodies don't recognize the synthetic hormones the same way, all of it gets absorbed and used, whether needed or not. And that is when symptoms can intensify or new problems can occur. This totally explained why I didn't feel myself when I took the Pill years ago.

So I decided to order Progessence Plus. The first night I had it, I followed Wendy's instructions: Rub one drop into your inner wrists, then rub onto pulse points on your neck. The smell itself is simply heavenly. The next morning I felt different. I awoke with energy. I didn't realize I hadn't been sleeping well for years until that morning. I was so well rested; it was amazing. I continued to use one drop each night before bed and the next improvement I saw was my focus, specifically my memory. If you've had this struggle before, you know how "in the clouds" your brain can feel. This was a highly noticeable change. As silly as it may sound, I felt like I was finally capable of keeping up with everyday responsibilities again. It stopped feeling like I was stuck in a knotted maze when I was trying to plan my day. (Not to mention no more hormonal headaches or period cramps!)

This the new me that I am happy to live with. I think every woman could benefit from this. And since it's made such a difference for me, it's hard not to share it :)

Summer Fun

This is one of my favorite videos so far this summer. Jacob and C had so much fun making mudslides. Jacob has always had this thing with getting dirty... it would worry me at times, wondering why he wouldn't be interested in playing in the dirt with other kids. But this summer he started becoming adventurous. He now loves to play in the neighbors sandbox and even get muddy. No more worrying on my part. Now I enjoy studying him while he plays and interacts in newfound ways :)

June 2013

    So many things happened during the month of June! There were natural milestones we got to celebrate together along with special outings we went on now that we've adjusted to having two kiddos. Starting off, Silas went on his first hayride at Willoughby Farm. Although he probably had no clue what we were doing, Jacob was excited to share that moment with him :-)

    June 8th,  Jacob turned 3! I made him a Monsters Inc. cake with Sully and Mike Wazowski. -Or as Jacob says, "Sully and Mousky-Mousky!" My parents came down for the weekend and we enjoyed grilling out and spending time together. 

    By the middle of June, Silas was 3 months and getting really good at rolling over! I've been venturing out more with the boys and have taken them to the zoo, the outdoor splash pad, and parks. Silas is happy doing anything outside, even if it's just sitting in the stroller, and Jacob enjoys the variety of activities. 

Hayride at Willoughby Farm

Silas is growing so fast, 14lbs at 3 1/2 months!

We often sit outside on a blanket while Jacob & his friend draw with sidewalk chalk.

Grandpa "Icon" giving Silas some lovin' when they were visiting for Jacob's birthday weekend. And Daddy's first time wearing Silas in the carrier when we went on a family walk.

Our little family. Jacob is 3 now and Silas is 3 months :-)

My Mom, Silas, and me :-)

One and Two Months

Where is the time going? When we had Jacob it sped up, but I swear it's going even faster now. Finally getting used to having two little one. Let me tell you, it is a HIGE help that Jacob is potty trained. Having two in diapers would not only be expensive, but time consuming! We are used to nursing now, and can understand Silas' cries a little better to know weather he is tired or hungry.

Brothers. Jacob is almost 3 and Silas is 1 month. 

This pillow is amazing. It allows Jacob to hold Silas all by himself :)

Silas is starting to smile and have more expressions at a little over one month.

He's such a happy, smiley baby. Jacob gets really excited when Silas smiles at him.
It absolutely melts my heart.

Silas at 2 months:

Favorite things to do at 2 months:
Sit in his bouncy chair outside while watching Jacob play & sleep in the swing :-)

Daddy making sure Jacob still gets quality time now that he's a big brother.

Silas is two months now and 12lbs 14oz!