six month sister

Mommy promised to update you more often here on the blog but it seems that she doesn't have as much time as she thought. While she's busy, I'll tell you a little bit about what I've been up to:

Play time in mommy's shades...

hypnotizing people with my amazing baby blues...

and getting my six-month pictures taken with Lammy...

I'm also eating a lot more food now. I can't believe Mommy was holding out on me! Who knew the veritable cornucopia of nourishment that awaited me outside of the breastaurant?!?!?! Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Bananas, Applesauce, Pears, Peas, and Green Beans have been my latest delicacies. I'm not too crazy about the veggies, especially if I am eating fruit at the same meal, but Mommy says I am a good eater.

I am totally in love with my Daddy and give him big smiles whenever he comes near me. And that redheaded kid is pretty cool too. He plays with me a lot and usually treats me good...usually. I've also noticed that there's this funny furry creature that lives at our house too. I love it when he licks my hands, that makes me laugh out loud.

I'll tell Mommy to get her stuff together and write more often. She did mention something about having writer's block or something like that but I don't know what that means. And I'll try to take better naps so that she'll have time to blog and check her facebook thing too.

See you around!

Anna Griffin

hear ye, hear ye...

On this, the thirteenth day of November in the two-thousand and eighth year of our Lord, I have-est two proclamations to shout from thine rooftops.

Proclamation Numero Uno:

My sister (Sarah) is great with child and the child is a............BOY!!!!! Her little sprout shall be called Jack Owen(our name that was maiden) Iseley. Goest thou forth and bid her congratulatory remarks if thou so desireth.

This is how my dearest sister and husband shall appear upon the arrival of their bundle sometime near the ninth day of the month of April in the two-thousand and ninth year of our Lord. (Only they shall look much more tired when tis their own child
and they are partaking in no respite)

Proclamation Numero Dos:

Following much prodding, it appeareth that my dearest friend, Mrs. Noonzie has indeed proceeded henceforth into the blogosphere. I almost partooketh in a massive coronary upon hearing the news of this greatness. Please go out from this place and bid her a warmer than warm welcome - but only after thou leavest me a comment. You may find her at the following address...

Love Me Through It

Now go thou forth into the blogosphere.

what defines me

Hi. It's me Caroline. You know, author extraordinaire of Pocket Change. And also the one who's been away for the last week. Allow me to explain.

Without launching into a bunch of unnecessary jargain about what's been going on the last several months, let's just say that I allowed this blog to take over my life. I would blog in the morning, letting the redhead watch tv for a couple hours just so I could "do my thing". I would blog during his nap - a time when I need to be spending time in Bible Study and "gettin' my Jesus on", but nope - I would blog then too. I would blog before dinner, after dinner, and into the evening while my husband sat watching tv.

The sad part? The whole time I was blogging, I was feeling guilty, like I should be tending to my responsibilities at home and to my family. But I continued blogging.

Last Monday was the breaking point. I sat alone working on a new Bible Study I'm a part of (Priscilla Shirer's Discerning the Voice of God - hmmm, coincidence...I think not) when I knew that something had to change. I'm going to share with you some excerpts of my journal entries from the past week:

A friend recently wrote about her love of blogging and how it had become an idol in her life and that she wanted to love Jesus more. She realized that she needed to give it up completely. I too realize that blogging has become an idol for me - while an outlet at times, it has really become a means of escaping responsibility, a hindrance keeping me from my family, but mostly a hindrance from my relationship with the Lord. A few weeks ago I told God that I didn't want to give up blogging and wasn't ready to obey if that is what He asked me to do. I have conintued to be plagued by unrest and my spirit is not at peace. I know God is trying to speak to me about this idol, but I'm stuffing my ears.

I feel I'm finally getting to a point where I want to hear what God is saying. I know what I hear Caroline saying - "I don't want to give up blogging...its my creative outlet". I know that I am also really bogged down in what other people will think. I also know what I want God to say - "it's okay, you don't have to give up blogging completely, just don't love it more than you love me".

Right now, I can't hear anything clearly and I want to, I need to. I love blogging and I recive much affirmation and have made many "friends", but my relationship with Christ will not flourish and I will not hear God if I don't chosse to obey.

I believe what I need to do is take a step away from blogging for a week and really clear my mind and heart to hear from God. Because I don't know whose voice is whose, right now I must take time to discern His voice and put Him back on the throne of my life.

So, I took a week off.

My love of blogging didn't dissipate - at all. The desire to blog all hours of the day did. My desire to spend more time with Jesus grew exponentially as I spent precious time with Him this week.

I also realized that while blogging in and of itself is not sinful, what I made blogging into - something I love more than God - is sinful.

My desire to spend time with my precious son who will only be small a short time grew. My desire to spend time with my husband also grew. God changed my heart, I just made myself available to Him.

So, with that said. I'm not hanging up the blog totally (unless I hear otherwise), but I won't be posting as often. If I lose some readers, then I lose some readers. That's hard for me to stomach. However, I desire to please my Father more.

This week, the Lord brought a Scripture to mind:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

It is so easy for me to become entangled in something that has no eternal value. It has happened with computer games, blogging, and worrying about what's going on with all the celebrities. What I truly desire to be embedded in is God's truth and a growing relationship with Him. I pray that as I seek to become more intimate with my Father, He will give me a passion for the things He desires as well.

i heart your blog

I was awarded another little lovely...

by Tracy P. over at The Journey. She likes me, she really really likes me!

The rules of this award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated

And now the nominees in no particular order:

1. Heather at The Barbour Shop - Heather is an old college friend of mine who has 3 wonderful (and adorable) children. She is always coming up with creative and fun things for her "kiddos" to do. Plus, her blog design is beautiful AND she takes great pictures!

2. Courtney at Coffee Talk - Courtney and I go way back too, to Camp Willow Run in tiny Littleton, NC. Courtney is pastor's wife and mom to an adorable redhead. She always has something creative to post about, from funny things her redhead says, to almost vaulting out of a recliner in order to save her laptop. I always have to have a cup of coffee handy when I read her blog.

3. Octamom (I don't think I've ever seen her real name) - This is one cool lady. She is a wife and mother to 8 beautiful children. When she's not creating spreadsheets to keep her clan organized, she finds the time to leave the sweetest comments on the blogs of others. I also need to mention that she is a great writer.

4. Sarah @ The Wonderful Life That I Live is a dear friend of mine. She has an adorable little girl, Hannah, who is always getting into something. I love Sarah because she's real. If she's having a bad day, she'll tell you. If she's having a great day, she'll tell you. What you see is what you get with Sarah. She also loves to experiment with blog templates. I admire her for embracing change so readily.

5. The Queen in Residence @ Shiner's House of Fun - Oh my gosh, where do I begin? She's a wonderful mother, she's got the most beautiful eyes, and she's stinkin' hilarious (as evidenced by this post). She's finally home alone and both kids are in school. Who knows what she'll come up with next.

6. Angie @ John Deere Mom - Angie is a fun blogger and she's got plenty of blog fodder, what with her kids, Jackie the Cow and a recent illegal immigrant who showed up on her doorstep. She's funny, a great decorator, and makes great stuffed shrooms!

7. Lula @ Lulaville - I truly believe Lula and I share a brain (although I think she got the majority of it as her vocabulary is much greater than mine). Lula loves music, The Princess Bride, Jason Statham (that's right girls, she's got all dibs on him), and is Best Friends with Paula Deen. She leaves the most hilarious comments and was one of the first bloggers who evoked a belly laugh from me while reading her posts. Love you girl!

Now get on over to the gals and give 'em your love!

my plea to you to help me come up with something else to post about

So, I mentioned that I was going to take a posting Pa-oo-say (pause - in "French") in the last post, but here I am again. I snagged a few minutes to relieve some of my anxiety about going home (on Wed.) and returning to the blogging world. I just have to tell you I'm a little stressed out about going home. Sure, I'll have some cute pictures and a couple of stories to share with you, but we haven't been anywhere exotic like Turks and Caicos or Fiji or anything like that. We've more or less just been visiting family, which is AWESOME, but not exotic.

As we've been away for a bit, I've been pondering over what to post next, and I've come up with....NOTHING. I am void of any useful material. Completely void. This is what has gotten me stressed out. I expected my vacation to produce some wonderful blog fodder, but instead, I feel more empty than ever. I realize that there is an ebb and flow to posting, but I'm really ebbing right now.

With that said, I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions that you all have about what I could maybe write about over the next few posts (after I tell you about the exotic vacation of course). Or perhaps you have more questions for me - I really enjoyed the last Q & A.

I appreciate you still wanting to read after my August posts have proved themselves completely LAME thus far. I'm hoping its only a phase and that "this too shall pass".

a bloggy pa-oo-say

Hello all! I just wanted to say (before you think I vanished off the face of the earth), that we are galavanting hither and yon this week, hence the blogging hiatus. However, I prefer to use the French word for "stop" - Pause (pronounced pa-oo-say) in reference to the break between posts. Do not fret my friends, I will return in the grandest of fashions with pictures of all the excitement we have encountered on our journeys.

Let me just add...thank God for vehicular toddler crack in the form of Baby Einstein DVD's on a portable DVD player. Thank you Jesus, Hallelujah!

walking in memphis - the mp3 shuffle

I totally jacked this idea from Jennifer P.'s blog. (cause she's the shizzle)

How it works:

Put your iPod or mp3 on shuffle mode and whatever song comes up is the answer to the questions. Feel free to pass on this idea!


1. What would describe your personality? : Say a Prayer For Me (Sponge)

2. What do you like in a guy/girl? : True Colors (Phil Collins)

3. How do you feel, today?: Good Intentions (Toad the Wet Sprocket)

4. What’s your life’s purpose?: Kyrie (Mr. Mister)

5. What is your motto? : Hazy Shade of Winter (Bangles)

6. What do your friends think of you?: Walk on the Ocean (Toad the Wet Sprocket)

7. What do you think of your parents?: Harden My Heart (Quarterflash) hahahahaha

8. What do you think about very often?: Locomotion (Kylie Minogue) What? Wesley likes choo-choos.

9. What do you think of your best friend? :Water Runs Dry (Boyz II Men)

10. What do you think of the person you like?: Love Is On The Way (Saigon Kick)

11. What is your life story?: Send Me An Angel (Paul Oakenfold)

12. What do you want to be when you grow up?: A-Team (theme song - Headshakers) I'm totally FACE.

13. What do you think when you see the person you like?: Hands to Heaven (Breathe) Thank you JJJEEEEESSSUUUSSSSS!

14. What do your parents think of you? : 6th Avenue Heartache (Wallflowers)

15. What will be played at your funeral? :Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)

16.What is your hobby/interest?: He's So Shy (Pointer Sisters)

17. What is your biggest secret? : Love Is a Battlefield (Pat Benetar) That's way deep.

18. What do you think of your friends?: We Belong (Pat Benetar) no, I did not intentionally do this just because I heart Pat B in a big way!

19. What should you post this as? :Walking In Memphis (Mark Cohn)

arte y pico. its not salsa.

I won a blog award!

My super duper bloggy friend Hot Tub Lizzy gave me the Arte y Pico Award. While it might sound like a menu item from Baja Fresh, its actually this little lovely...



Here's the rules:

**You have to pick 5 blogs that you think deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.

**Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

**Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given
her or him the award itself.

**The award-winner and the one who has given the prize must show the link of the “Arte y Pico” blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.


So without further adue (I never know how to spell this)...

the recipients are...

**Karin at 6 By His Design - Karin is extraordinary. She runs, she blogs, she's a mom to 4 precious children (including a set of twins), she makes cards, she plans slammin' partays, and she makes really, really cute t-shirts. I don't know how she finds time for all of this, but somehow she does. And I forgot the mention that she leaves the best comments!

**Ainsley at Chattahoochee Mama - Ainsley and I went to college together, but we've just reconnected through bloggy land. Ainsley is the mother of two precious boys and just ventured on a 10 hour (one-way) road trip ALL BY HERSELF with the boys. Makes me sweat nervously just thinking about that. Anyway, her blog is full of variety - starbucks, parenting resources, pictures of her cuties, and every Thursday, she writes about things she's thankful for. Three cheers for being grateful for the little things in life!

**Nan at Joys of Boys - Nan and I go waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back. What I like about Nan's blog is that its real. Nan also does Thankful Thursdays and shares funny quips from her two little tykes, her desire to take better care of her body by eating healthier, and savvy home decor ideas. She's a pocket full o' goodness. Love you girl!

**Sissy at Out on a Limb - I secretly (well, I guess not anymore) covet Sissy's blog design...it's SOOOOOOOOOOO great! Sissy is a wealth of information. Recently, she's done some great home re-decorating complete with pictures. Like Nan, Sissy is real and is not afraid to share her heart. She's witty, sweet, and sassy all in one - not to mention a great read!

Last, but certainly not least...

**Sarah, my seestar at Sprout Cultivator - While she isn't able to post as frequently as I, she always writes fabulous posts. From stories about things her kids (she teaches first grade) say, to more home re-decorating, to the beautiful landscaping her wonderful husband does, Sarah is always a good read. What can I say, she's my seestar and I love her.

Now, congratulate all these girlies and shower them with comment love.

the afterglow

WOW! Double WOW! Wowzers! I'm basking in the afterglow of my SITS stardom. What a day!

You guys are AWESOME! Here's what I looked like this morning. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face all day long. (disclaimer: I did get around to taking a shower, but the hair and makeup - not so much. Speaking of glowing, take a look at that forehead, geez. But don't I look exuberant?

Here's my reaction to seeing my name in lights...

Super!


I had a great day. The redhead behaved, even though he didn't eat breakfast until 9:30. He was in tv heaven and watched his DVD of the Little People about 4 times. He totally understands my addiction. We're tight like that. I don't normally neglect him to this extent, but you understand - I have to have my day in the sun now and then.

A few weeks ago (when I was a Saucy Blog on SITS), I composed an acceptance speech that I would like to share with you (in case you missed the awesomeness that it is).

**AHEM**

First of all, I would like to thank God. Without him, I might not have appendages with digits to type with!

I have to also thank my sister (Sprout Cultivator). If not for her, I wouldn't even have a blog!

Thank you Heather and Tiffany for believing in me in enough to make me the "Featured Blogger".

Thank you to my agent, my stylist, my makeup artist, my manager, my maid, my nanny, my chef, my personal shopper, and my driver, without you I don't know how I would have the time to blog!

Thank you to all of you who give me comment love. I need you, I love you, and I'll try to get back to each of you and personally leave a little comment love for you too!

Finally, I have to thank my baby daddy and my redhead, because without them I wouldn't have much to post about.

Thank you so much SITS. I love you!

yeah, you're at the right place

I've been thinking about the name of my blog lately...Mom of a Redhead. Sure, its cute, but does it have that certain "je ne sais quoi"? (Bet you didn't know I spoke French). I do write about the redhead - some (and will continue) - but mostly its about my musings and thoughts about various and sundry material.

In talking with one of my friends - I'm gonna go ahead and call you out Mrs. Noonzie - get a frickin' blog already! - I think I want to do a little changing before I achieve celebrity status (insert sarcastic laugh). My title was going to be something derived from Princess Bride (cause that movie is the best ever), but then I thought of Loose Change. Turns out, someone else's blog (which is a tad more popular than mine) already has that name. I thought about Loose Screws, but then Mr. Baseball (my hubby's new blog name) came up with Pocket Change. Thanks honey...home run (tee hee)! Make sure you check out the tag line. Oh, and leave me a comment and let me know what you think. If you really like it and you're somebody that does blog design, give me your email and we'll chat. My birthday is coming up and I might have some money for a re-do - if I don't go shopping at Ann Taylor first!

P.S. If I'm on your blog roll, please go ahead and "change" the name so people will be even more confused.

well looky here...

Just in time for my 50th post I got a new look courtesy of leelou blog designs. I bet you're wondering how much this set me back? Actually, a whole lot of nothin'. That's right, F to the R to the double E - FREE! And may I mention its super easy. If I can do it, its gotta be easy! Go ahead, try it, you might like it. I was getting a little bored with the same old same old template. If Lucy can get a new look why can't I? Let me know what you think!

Blogaholics Anonymous

Writer's block. I'm afraid I've got it - BAD. Truthfully, I can't blame it all on writer's block.

Hi, my name is Caroline and I'm insecure.

What about, you say? Oh, just about my posts in general. I am really bad about comparing my posts to those of others. I'm not a creative writer, I don't have crazy things happening constantly in my life that I can write about, I don't always take really great pictures, I am not a crafty, bargain-shopping Martha Stewart type person whose home looks like something out of a magazine, and I'm not great at writing really introspective and deeply spiritual posts. By the way, I am in no way attacking anyone who is able to do those things (I totally dig your blogs)! Its just that because I don't or can't do those things that I think that my blog is somehow inferior. I know it might seem crazy, but its how I feel. I recognize that there are certain unique elements I bring to my blog, but I still feel as if my blog doesn't measure up to blogs of others. Its PRIDE rearing its ugly head again.

When I think about what to write, I find myself just short of a cold sweat. I think to myself "How will this post compare to so-and-so's?" This is not what my blogging should be about. I should be excited about posting simple, even mundane subjects like what we ate for dinner (In case you were wondering, we ate chicken salad - my recipe). I want to find great joy in writing anything, along with freedom from wondering if my readers are bored or on the verge of deleting my name from their "Blogs I Read" lists.

Hello again, my name is Caroline and I'm also a people pleaser.

Thank God I'm a work in progress and these issues aren't stuck to me like gum in a school-girl's hair.

Okay, so how do I recover from this? Is there a 12 step program for people like me? I think maybe I'll just post what I want and not worry if I'm keeping you, my wonderfully supportive readers satisfied. After all, its my blog...just don't forget to leave your comments, I need the affirmation!

Are You A Stalker?...I Think Not!

I found this post on another blog and thought it was so appropriate. My sentiments exactly! If you're interested in not stalking the blog this came from, its http://thepipers.wordpress.com.

I’ve noticed a tentativeness among women in the blogosphere that I want to come against right now–you are (probably) not a stalker.

I know there are more people who read this blog than people who comment, and that is totally fine. But I’ve noticed that when a stranger or visitor does get up the gumption to comment, it’s usually laced with all kinds of insecure apology-like statements, like, “I don’t know you at all…”, “I just happened upon your blog…” or something to that effect.

My husband started a new blog a month or so ago, and he has people from all over the world visiting and commenting, mostly men, but some women too. I have noticed that men don’t feel the same compulsion to apologize profusely for reading another man’s blog, as though they accidentally stumbled upon his secret diary.

Let me assure you of a few things, and hopefully that will make the commenting flow more smoothly and eliminate the need for explanation:

• This is a public blog. I fully expect and hope for people who I don’t know to read here and comment. If I wanted comments only from people I know, I would publish a private blog.
• I really, really like meeting new people. It energizes me. Ask my husband.
• You have probably found this blog through a couple different avenues, all of which are perfectly legitimate, and thus not stalker-like 1.) clicking through from one of my friends’ blogs where I’ve commented or where I’m listed on their blogroll; 2.) random googling.
• I blog to connect with people that I wouldn’t normally get to connect with on a regular basis.

Often times, I find myself on someone’s blog after a series of random click-throughs, and then I go to relay the interesting thing I read to my husband, and I can’t even remember how I got there. Does that make me a stalker? I don’t think so. At least I hope not.

This is by no means meant to be some heavy-handed bullying tactic to get you lurkers out there to comment. I just want you to know that you’re free to if you’d like to.

Of course the possibility still remains that you are, in fact, a stalker, but that is something you will need to deal with on your own time, probably with the aid of a professional counselor. Nevertheless, I’m banking on the probability that you are just another normal man or woman like me, who likes to read blogs, and found mine.

Welcome.

I wish I had the creativity to write this instead of steal it from someone else's blog, but hey - at least I'm not a stalker!

The New Look

I got a wild hair today during Wesley's nap and decided to change templates. I know its pretty drastic. I'm still acclimating to it, but I think it will fit nicely with the program. I tried to figure out how to add cool pictures under the blog name heading, but all my pictures were too big. I also played around with the colors and fonts...didn't work out so well. I'm sticking with the generic template. It may be a little boring, but if I get tired of it, I can always change it again and keep you on your toes!

Mo Mo Fared Head

Here's a good chuckle!

Recently I was with a friend and we started talking about my blog. She said,

"You're going to think I'm so crazy, but for the longest time, I couldn't figure out your blog address - Mo Mo Fared Head. It wasn't until my coworker pointed out to me that it was 'Mom of a Redhead' that I got it! I thought maybe it was some inside joke that you made to be your blog address. How funny is that?"

And So it Begins...

So, I decided to start blogging today after a not so subtle request from my dear sister Sarah. I had given it some thought recently as several friends have been blogging for a while and it seemed like a great way to keep up with them and share my thoughts on life. I'm not really sure what to put in this first blog, but just to get started, here's what's going on at my house right now. It's pretty obvious what I'm doing, but Wesley (my 16 mo. old redhead who will be the topic of many a blog), is watching "Little Bear" on Noggin and pushing a mega blocks train across the floor. He calls a train a "Ba", please don't ask where in the world he got that! We have just returned from Wal-Mart where we purchased way too many inconsequential items and spent too much money. We also got to see Adam at the bank. Its so sweet the way Wesley just lights up when he sees his "Dah". I have really seen how meaningful having two parents (mom and dad) is to a child and how much it is needed. I bring certain things to Wesley that Adam doesn't and vice versa. I am so thankful to have a husband who is such a loving father. Adam said yesterday, "I wonder if my dad kissed me when I was Wesley's age as much as I kiss Wesley . I am so glad that Adam doesn't withhold affection and love from Wesley. Because of that, Wesley has become so loving. He gives kisses liberally and even gave a kiss to one of his nursery workers at church last week. I just put him down for bed and every night we have to say I love you several times in sign language. Wesley has learned to sign the "I" and "Love" parts, its just pointing at the other person that he doesn't quite get. He just melts my heart. What a blessing children are! Well, its off to make dinner (pizza - YEAH!). More thoughts tomorrow.