Fun weekend

We had a fun weekend together. On Friday we celebrated Chris' 30th Birthday at Todd's parents. Then, it was one of the first Saturday's in a while that Todd did not have his administrative liscence classes and was able to spend the day with us. Todd made us all waffles and then we went Garage Saling to try and find fun outdoor toys for Elias. We got two slide/play houses, and a rocker. We got great deals, so that was even nicer! Elias loves his new playhouse and I know it will give us lots of entertainment this summer. Then Sunday we went to Church and Todd headed to an Aspiring Principal's conference and we went to Bible Study.


Gail walking with Elias.
hanging out in the yard...
Elias enjoying his new playhouse, slide, and rocker

Watching Daddy coach...

With the weather being so nice this past week, Elias and I headed to the baseball field to watch daddy coach the 7th grade baseball team. Elias loved being outside watching all of the people and of course playing with the sticks and grass. I was also humored by the students at the game--several of them kept coming up to me asking if I was "Mrs. Hitchy" and if the baby was "baby Hitchy". They also kept telling me about how they were Mr. Hitchy's favorite student and so forth. I was sitting close to them and I was quite entertained by thier conversations and behaviors. Later I asked Todd if they acted like that in class and he just laughed and said yes. Anyway... It was fun to see a glimpse of what Todd deals with everyday and how God has gifted him to interact with Middle school kids. They sure are funny. We look foward to going to more of the games over the next few weeks.

Enjoying being outside...

Over the last several days the Hitchcock household has enjoyed spending time outside in this WONDERFUL weather!! A few days ago we were finally able to hook up Elias' bike cart and go on some bike rides. He seemed to enjoy himself--which is good because I am sure we will be going on lots of rides this summer.

Over the last few days Elias has been doing some really cute new things. He has started to hand us things over and over. Last night we were all sitting outside in the yard an he kept handing us sticks. (I think he handed them to us 100 times!!) Each time he was so excited and proud of himself as we said "thank you." He has also truly learned to associate saying ut-oh. Over the last few days whenever he drops someting he says "ut-oh". He has also started saying "Bear"---His security bear/blanket. I am sure this will be a word we will hear lots as he has to know where "bear" is at all times and usually has to have it with him. He has also associated saying the word "bye" with waving. If he even hears the word bye, he starts waving. He is such a fun boy and we are enjoying watching these new developments as he is showing us he understands words and starting to talk.

Do you print pictures and make photo albums??

Recently as I sat down to begin printing pictures of Elias to continue putting them into to albums I began thinking... Is it worth my time, money, and effort to print pictures of Elias and make photo albums? I have printed most of the pictures I have taken of Elias so far and put them into albums--his first year. But, should I keep doing this? I was realizing that I have all my photo's in dated and named albums on my computer in Picassa--is that enough in this day and age? Another thought....if Elias wants to later look at pictures of himself would he want to just see it on the computer or an actual photo album? Anyway... I take so many pictures that by the time he is 18--he will have TONS of albums and lots of my time and effort into putting them together... So, mabye I should just keep them organized on the computer and only print the ones I love and want to have in frames around the house. I am just interested.... What do you all do?

I love to walk......behind a walker

Over the last few weeks Elias has gotten really good at walking behind his walker. He loves walking all around the house with it and of course pushing his best friend "Beary" around. It is so funny because he has no concept of things that get in his way. He goes over things and runs into things all the time with it. he also hasn't quite figured out how to get it unstuck either, but we are working on that.

Over the last few weeks Elias has also started to say a few words and is mimicking sounds and words we make to him. I thought his first words would be Mama and dada, but actually it is quite humorous because his first word was Todd and then later started trying to say Trisha. I don't think he knows these words are us, but I guess he has just heard us saying each others names and has caught on. He also says Dada a lot, but again not sure if he recognizes it is Todd. The cutest thing he did today was start saying ut-oh. He said it after he dropped his sippy cup today. It is very cute.

Trip to Wisconsin....

This past weekend we went up to Kenosha, Wisconsin to visit with Keet, Hillary, and Cole. This was our first time up there, so it was fun seeing where they live and also spending a few days hanging out, talking, playing games, and watching Elias and his Cousin Cole interact together. We were blessed with a beautiful day on Saturday, so it was wonderful going to the Park and walking along Lake Michigan. We are very thankful that we made the trip to see them! Matching outfits....

taking a bath together...and Duke looking in...

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Our nephew Cole. Isn't he so cute!!

The boys enjoying their time in the strollers.

Group picture by the lake.

Enjoying our walk on such a nice day!

Treating our Body as a Temple----Part 1

Eating the Way God intended---What has happened to Our Society?

Over the last several weeks I have been very convicted with the way the American Society eats and takes care of their body (myself included). These questions have been running through my mind...Why has our society become so corrupt in this area that we don't even know we are eating poorly? Is it a sin to eat the way I am eating? Why do we put such toxic and horrible things into our body--the temple of God? What happend to eating the freshest quaility foods the way people used to eat it? Why has convience overtaken our health and taking care of the body God gave us?

This has all came about as I have started feeding Elias actual table food and my intuition and desire to feed him the best, wholesome, and natural quality food possible for his development and growth. Over the last year I have been trying to learn as much about treating your body as a temple. I have spent many hours searching, reading, attending Holistic Mom's groups, and talking with others to educate myself. (more writings on some of these other topics will come later). I have learned so much and have developed a very strong passion about helping change myself, my family, and societly in how we should live and treat our bodies that God has given us. The reason I share this passion with you is because With all my heart and conviction I truly believe the reason for a rise in autism, health issues, diseases, cancer, death, obesity, etc. is because of what we put into our body and how we treat it! The way most American's live and how they take care of thier bodies today is NOT the way God intended! With that said...here are some things that I have learned and want to share in regards to eating. I know for us changing our lifestyles is going to take some work and dedication, but I truly believe and I am personally convicted to strive to treat my body the way God intended though it is not the norm or easy.

Hte first topic I am going to discuss in treating our body as a temple is in regards to the food we put in our body. First off, I feel strongly that these are things we should be avoiding....over-processed stuff that is labeled as "food" and stick to a healthier alternative. We should decide to eat nothing, unless it was made by God and God alone. Nothing canned, packaged, bottled or frozen. If it isn't the freshest, then it shouldn't go in my body. WOW--that is complete opposite of the way Todd and I eat and most of American Society! What happened to having farms and eating the freshest quality food? We have decided to leave our health behind for convenience sake. I am currenlty learning that this Journey is not easy and can be much more expensive, which is sad that our society has turned that way too.

The Bible says your body is the "temple" of God. In 1Corinthians 3:16-17 it says, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." How do you treat your "temple"? Are you consuming real and perfect food God made for your complete nourishment or do you eat "food products" that were created by man? Although represented as "food", most of us eat processed food products, which have no real nutritional value. Many dietary elements are necessary to produce good health. When any one element is missing, this week link causes the whole body to break down. However, you don't have to sit with charts and a calculator at each meal to see if you're getting everything you need. In Stormie Omartian's book, Greater Health God's Way, she suggests following these guidelines:

1. Eat Only FRESH vegetables and fruits, no canned, frozen or processed in any way. Should make up 15% of each meal. 2. Whole grains (no white flour) should make up 25% of one meal per day 3. Meat, poultry and fish. Select only one of them each day. Remember, red meat digests slowly so only eat up to 2 times a week. 4. Seeds, nuts and berries 5. Milk, UN-processed cheese, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese and butter. 6. Eggs. Only as fresh as you can get them.

The health of Americans is the worst ever in history. We have created a culture that believes that a well-balanced meal consists of chicken nuggets, french fries and a soda. According to the most recent statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 64% of adults, age 20 years or older are considered overweight or obese. Think of it this way, the more processes the food has been through before it gets to you, the less likely you should eat it. The body can only store man-made synthetic foods as chemicals. Storing these chemicals can end up causing many different diseases and problems. Whole foods, the way God intended it to be, should be consumed for our own sake. Remember, wellness and good health is a choice. Honor your body and God's "temple". By following Biblical eating and Biblical nutrition the way God intended, it promotes our body's health and wellness.

Currently for our family there are two criteria that I look at and try to do before I eat it. Number one, it had to be created by God as a food. Number two, it needs to be consumed in the form that is compatible for the human body--in the form that God created it. Throughout history, the world's healthiest people have known how to preserve, prepare and consume food in its healthiest form. So if it's animal food, it means that the animals were raised healthy. If it's vegetable food, it means the vegetables were raised healthfully. When it comes to grains and dairy, the least processing and the preparation that allows them to be more digestible is the way that history tells us to eat. And it's also using the laws of nature to preserve instead of the man made processes that we put into place.

Now, obviously we will not completely stick to this at all times and I think that is perfectly okay. I just think it is important to think about and if convicted---try to change things slowly and over time and begin to learn how to treat our body as a temple in the way God intended. Just some thoughts for you all to think about as I think most of us (me included) had not thought about before .... :) I would love to hear any of your comments or thoughts on this topic as welll....

Trip to the Children's Musuem

This past weekend we took Elias to the Children's Musuem and he had a blast! They have added several areas especially for the younger kiddo's, so even at his age it was great! We all had lots of fun and look foward to going back again sometime soon!! Elias practicing his driving skills in a Indy car...

Playing with Mimi at the Thomas the Train table.

Posing for the camera

Elias' first ride on a Carousel...

Playing at the water table. Elias was splashing so much that he drenched Todd...