Let Me Upgrade Ya!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am totally a fan of Beyonce. Sometimes I'm afraid to admit it, and then I'm like why? I totally love her. I was thinking of her song today "Let me upgrade ya"- while I was "upgrading" myself to a new fancy blog. I've got my very own domain, a new host (wordpress) and a new design, and I am SO excited! Please change your RSS feeds like NOW (don't wait, because you will forget, k?) and head on over to www.capribythelake.com
I hope you love it as much as I do- goodbye blogger!

Crawl, baby crawl (please?)

Capri is now a little over 7 months old! She is at this horrible in-between stage where she is so-over all of her toys, bouncy, jumpy, daddy, mommy but she can't yet crawl to entertain herself. She wants to SO bad. We have her on the floor every second we can trying to push this developmental stage. So far, she gets up on all fours, but she won't move. We crawl around with her, help her move her feet, her hands. We hold up her belly, but she doesn't move. She has always hated being on her belly, being held facing outwards ect. She can pull up already (and she does it all the time), and it makes me wonder if she will skip this whole crawling thing all together. She doesn't really care for the floor, and makes a little diva face like "gross". I don't think its a sensory thing, she just acts like she's too good for it. Hubby and I can't wait until she can have some freedom. She is so fiercely independent that not crawling is just not working for her. She cut two little sharp teeth this week- which has been so.much.fun. and she is working on about four more, all at once!

She rewards us though with all are hard work by grabbing my hair, or the skin on my neck with both hands and pulling me in for a big open mouth kiss. The teething has been hard, but the subsequent cuddles have been priceless. We have discovered that she just adores other babies, and insists on trying to kiss and hug them. Hubby and I kiss her and hug her a ridiculous amount (like every second), and we are wondering if we are teaching her inappropriate social behavior- because thats all she really wants to do with other babies and kids. Play with a toy? Why do that when we can just make out?

Bath time is always a big hit around our house, and I am loving the fact that it calms her down, and makes her happy. We aren't really conserving water with the increasing number of baths, but honestly- if my baby is happy- I'll skip a shower if I have to, ya know?

The little adorable outfit above is the result of the sweetest care package sent from my best friend Chelsea, her hubby, and parents. It made me cry and I realized how deeply loved we were. Friends are just the greatest treasures, and Capri has loved her new clothes. Chelsea is definitely a Savvy Auntie.

Just a quick hello!

Crazy Bible Stuff

Today I was reading this passage in Genesis. I've read this before, and learned this before, but it still strikes me as the coolest craziest stuff, ya know?

Genesis 5:18-24

18-20 When Jared was 162 years old, he had Enoch. After he had Enoch, he lived another 800 years, having more sons and daughters. Jared lived a total of 962 years. And he died.

21-23 When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he had Methuselah. Enoch walked steadily with God. After he had Methuselah, he lived another

300 years, having more sons and daughters. Enoch lived a total of 365 years.

24 Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him.

Okay, first of all- Jared had a baby when he was 162! Isn't it funny when you are considered "old" for having a baby when you are "middle aged" like 40ish? This was SUCH a different world and a different time, and then he lived to be 962!

I just think about what a cool world it must have been if people were living this long. The gap between birth and death was so enormous! These people had so much life experience, and were probably so wise! The earth had little disease at this point, and people were probably never sick. Wouldn't that be cool? To live in a world that was free of chemicals, hormones, pesticides, disease, bacteria ect...?

The Enoch has a baby at 65, which is old in our culture, but he must have been such a baby back then! And then the coolest part of the passage- Enoch didn't die, but he went to Heaven. That would be so amazing! Can you fathom it? You are fully aware the whole time!

I was just reading this this morning, and I wished someone was there so I could be like "Dude, this is so cool, isn't it?" And- no one was there, so I thought I would share it with you guys!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash!

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

Oh, I want to win this SO bad, don't YOU? Go check it out!

The Impeccable Eye

I get THIS awesome newsletter, and in the latest version it talks about the Impeccable Eye. It talks about how our subconscious mind is visualizing ALL the time, it just is what it is, and you can see what you are visualizing if you just look at your life. Since we are already doing this, why not visualize what you really want? This issue of the newsletter challenged you to make a very detailed list of the kind of person you want to be- what size pants are you? Are you compassionate? A good listener? A successful business owner?. There are no impossibles, or things holding you back. It is the IDEAL you. I decided to take this challenge and write my list! After making the list, they say to put it up in places you will see it daily. For me, I'm going to put it in my bathroom, and bookmark this post as my homepage so I can read it every day. I challenge you to this as well, tell me how it works for you!

• Confident
• Love myself
• I give money to MANY causes, and invest in others passions and businesses
  
• I've mastered a routine for cleaning my home
• I answer my phone and always call people back
• I follow through with my word to myself, and everyone else.
• I'm a size 4 and weigh 130 pounds
• I'm active and working out every day
• I am a National Vice President in Arbonne
• I drive a white Mercedes SUV
• I make my husband feel incredibly loved, respected and supported every day
• I go out of my way to take care of my friends
• I am always looking for ways to make new friends
• I reply to every comment on my blog
• I comment on all the blogs I read
• I never miss a morning spending time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word.
• I finish reading four to five new books a month.
• I inspire people and use my gifts every day
• I play with my baby, and enjoy her in every moment
• I make birthdays and special events memorable for my family and friends
• I am detailed and organized
• I am wise with money. Frugal-always looking for a good deal and never over spending.
• I am intentional with my day, not letting laziness creep in.
• My house is beautifully decorated and painted.
• I take an awesome vacation every year.
• I have another baby.
• My legs are shaved and my hair is done.
• I memorize scripture weekly.
• I have a beautiful camera, and I take pictures every day.
• I've re-learned how to sew again, making things for myself and my daughter.
• I enjoy gardening, and my garden is beautiful.
• I live in a beautiful, large home.
• I entertain with dinner parties and celebrations.
• I cook every night, enjoying new recipes and beautiful creations!
• I've successfully helped my husband learn how to eat different kinds of foods.
• I'm creative
• I'm thoughtful
• I'm a great Mommy
• I'm ridiculously positive and joyful
• I'm in constant prayer
• I have beautiful shoes (and lots of them)
  
• I am debt free
• I enjoy financial freedom
• I own a clothing boutique
• I own many properties
• I am involved in Ministry with high school students
• I know three languages

Well, I think I will continually add to this, but this was an awesome exercise! I started writing it without much thought and just let things flow.... some things came up that surprised me.... Open up a clothing boutique? Hmmm, didn't know I wanted that! It's also REALLY personal, and almost hard for me to share (I don't know why?) but I wanted you to all see an example! I hope you will write your own "Impeccable Eye" and look at it every day! YOU deserve it!

update

Let's just be real

I have to be honest. I haven't been writing because I really haven't wanted to share, or talk about what has REALLY been going on over here. I don't want to force myself to blog, only to share something fake, and so I haven't. Until today when I decided I can't take it any longer, and I just don't care what people think (because no matter how much I fight it, I always care what people think). My husband and I are at the lowest point financially we have ever been.

I know that we aren't alone. I know that gas prices are killing everyone, people are losing their jobs (even Starbucks is closing 500 stores?), foreclosure rates are at an all time high, yadda....yadda.

Well, let's just say it sucks, and its really hard. What is our story? How did we get here?
Well lets just say that we never planned on getting pregnant, which lead to the decision to move to Indiana for lower cost of living, job potential and family (mine). So we came, and since last summer Wade hasn't been able to find a great job. When I had Capri, he was working at a restaurant just to find anything for us. Well, we had payed our midwife in full with all we had and planned on a homebirth and thought we would be fine (we had no insurance, no job). Little miss Capri decided she wanted a 40 hour labor, which led to the hospital visit. My job went down from full time, to part time (and just last week it went down to 15 hours a week).

We went from being debt free to buried in debt. We have medical bills up the wazoo that we can't even touch, and have been sent to collections (a less then 24 hour stay at the hospital resulted in 10k in medical bills, this should be illegal in my opinion!). We have lived off credit, food stamps and whatever else we can to get by.

Well, we have maxed out every credit card, used up all the food stamps, and we STILL can't find jobs. My parents are helping us all they can, but they honestly are dealing with the pressure of the economy as well. So are other family members. To be honest it doesn't comfort me to know that these people are in the "same boat". I'm sad for them, I am terribly, ripped open and raw for them because I know how scary it is, and I know how hard it is.

I have an amazing business, a beautiful business that I believe in, but yet isn't growing. It's my hope, my future, my dream, my desire, my passion, but it's not going anywhere. Why? I don't know, maybe because people aren't thinking about buying awesome products are starting a business because they are desperately trying to pay their car payment too?

My sweet husband, has THE strongest conviction to provide for his family. I see him every day putting himself out there to find something that will meet our needs. Tonight, he cried in my arms because he feels so awful. "I just want you and Capri to have so much more". I try and tell him he's a great provider, because he is, and he takes care of us, but there is nothing super encouraging to say right now, it just is what it is.

It's 4:15 in the morning, I can't sleep because of an awful emotional night, and boobs that are engorged past humanly possibly (I'm weaning, and that is a really long story for another time), and I have NO idea what tomorrow will bring.

First ever VLOG!

More to come!

Bee Simple

My friend Jaymi has an awesome Etsy shop where she sells hand-made soaps, lotions, bars, jewelry, and the yummiest chai tea you've ever tasted!

She even made a bracelet inspired by me, named the "Carrington". I think she gets "me" perfectly in this beautiful bracelet.

She is a stay at home mamma to three beautiful chillins, so go support her, you won't regret it!
Don't buy cheap stuff at CVS, or the grocery store, get all natural ingredients and products that are safe for your body!

The name game

My family has a thing with names. I guess when my parents were born in the 50's with the names John and Debbie, they wanted their kids to have one of a kind names.
First came my spunky sister Arianne, then came my brother Johnathan (a little spin from John, but he got off pretty easily in my opinion). Then came their lovely, beautiful fabulous third child... :) ME...(A.K.A Carrington) and then came their baby boy Harrison. Arianne always gets confused as Mary-anne, or Arianna. When she was younger she tried to change her name to Stephanie. Instead she just grew up and became best friends with THIS one. We always called my brother Johnny, and he hated it when he got to Junior high, and insisted we all call him "John", but it never really stuck with all of us. When he was young he wanted to be called "Jeffery Free". For me, most people confuse my first name as a last name, tell me they have "never heard that one before", and ask me how to spell it a million times. When I was just learning how to talk my mom kept calling me her "cutie-pie". I began to repeat it as "Tootie-pie" since I couldn't really get out the words. I soon became known as Tootie to all my family and close friends. I will sometimes run into old friends of my parents that knew me as a baby in the mall, and they will start waving and yelling "Hi Tootie!" and make me want to run away. However, when I became an Aunt, my Sister insisted that "Aunt Carrington" was just too stinkin' hard, and so I once again became Tootie to them, but I love being their Aunt Tootie. Harrison (A.K.A. Unkie Harry). He always says "yes, like Harrison Ford." For awhile he didn't pronounce his name fully, he always left out a syllable sounding like "Harr-son" which drove me crazy. I think he has finally figured that one out.

Some other unique names in my family?
My husband is Wade who people always confuse as Wayne. His first name is actually Dennis... just really confusing.
Both of my mothers are not "grandmothers" but other cool names. My mom is Mute (pronounced Moo-tee, and its German for mother), and Wade's mom is Nune (pronounced Noon-ee) and it was what they called her grandmother.

Oh, and I will end with the most confusing of all... the last name. Beauchamp. It looks like a beautiful name, its just really hard for most people to pronounce, and I don't blame them. It looks like it would sound like beau-shamp, but it actually sounds like beech-um.

What unique names do you have in your family?