The Holidays...

I can't even believe thanksgiving is this week!!! Jason worked yesterday, today and works tomorrow and I'm hosting brunch on thursday. Remember-he works 12 hour days so I'm loving getting stuff done during nap time. Max is such a "helper"-he loves to get into things!!! My mom is helping me a bunch after work. Our extended family celebrates Christmas this weekend so I have to finish Christmas shopping and wrapping too!!! Oy ve.

But I wanted to stop and take a few minutes to just center. Life is so good and we are so blessed. We have so much to be thankful for-Max is growing and thriving and looks so different than he did a year ago!!! And with another on the way-I feel like we have been on the receiving end of tons of blessings!!!!

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Baby Bunching....

You may have never have guessed it-but there is an actual term for what Jason and I are doing as to how our family is growing (rapidly)- and no, it's not "crazy" "mind numbing" or just "insane". It's BABY BUNCHING!!!! I'm so pleased to have found this online community of women-fellow "baby bunchers" that have helped me keep my sanity during this pregnancy!!! Seriously-when I got that positive pregnancy test and felt as though the air escaped the room and my life was sucked out of me-a dear internet friend (Florida Kara) introduced me to the Baby Bunching website. We were on our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to go camping with Jason's family (in Drummond Island actually) and I can say that my blackberry was on the website the entire time. I read the entire website that week-secretly because we weren't telling anyone that we were expecting yet. Each sentence calmed my heart a little bit-showing me that while we may be crazy or insane- this was indeed doable- and quite possibly one of the greatest things we could be doing.
Now I do expect to feel insane and mind numbing as time goes by. I feel like I have a decent view of how hard it is going to be-but I know that in the long run my "twiblings" will likely be the best of friends and life long playmates- and that excites me and Jason to no end!!!

I'm so very excited to have found this community of women and proud that I'll soon be part of it!!! I've also found other women - like myself- maybe not exactly planning to be a buncher-but have well reaped the benefits and have adjusted nicely. I'm addicted to reading blogs and some of my favorites are ones that I've found through the baby bunching site-women who highlight both their good days and bad days!!

As I'm now nearing the halfway point of this pregnancy- I can say that the oxygen has since been pumped back into my room and I can breathe easier. It hasn't been the smoothest transition but right now I can't imagine anything other than what my bunch will be like. Max is gonna be an amazing big brother!!! Just this weekend as Jason and I were letting Max practice walking back and forth between us and teaching him to clap and watching him wave- I was picturing the future- when Max will help teach and encourage B to do these very same things. My heart is warm and overjoyed. It sounds so cliche but it is so very true. No matter how tough this pregnancy is and will be- it will be worth it to see my family a step closer to being complete!!

Thanks Linda and Cara for welcoming me into your fold!!! I'm getting rather comfy here and am enjoying getting to know you- and learning as much as humanly possible in the next 20 weeks!!!!

It's a.....

Baby!!! We had our big U/S today and B looks great!!! Everything is right on track-10 fingers 10 toes, all the right stuff in the right places!!! Woot woot!!! We didn't find out again-it was tougher this time than last time-that's for sure. But Jason didn't even try to cheat this time!!

Poor Max is sick. I think we have a cold/teething combo. Poor little fella!!! Keep him in your prayers if you would!!!

Chalk mat tutorial

I just didn't want to lose this so I thought I'd post it!!! These are so cute. Once I get the basement finished and have a craft area-I want to start making these!!!

First I gather the following items:

Chalk cloth
Fabric for dinner mat side
elastic
thread
eyelet kit
ribbon
scissors

First I measure out the size of the place mat I want on the chalk mat and fabric. (Hint: Make sure the chalk mat is about 1- 2 inches shorter than the fabric. I usually use a template of a placemat that I have laying around. I think they are about 17X10 or something like that

Then, I cut it out the template from the chalk cloth and fabric.

With wrong sides togehter, I fold the fabric 2 times to give a nice finished look on the chalk mat side and I pin it.

The next step before sewing is to put about 1-1/2 of elastic on the bottom right side of the mat (underneath the fabric) so when you sew it it will be sewn in.

After pinning the fabric, I then sew all away around the chalk mat.

The last step is to use the eyelet kit and I usually put it on the opposite side of the elastic.

Viola! Your done!

Another early morning, another recipe..

I'm hosting a thanksgiving brunch at my house for my dad and sisters so I'm looking for some recipes to try (I'm not tackling turkey-but I thought maybe I could do a ham). My mom suggested looking for a cola recipe so I found one on my favorite crock pot blog!!!! Here it is:

Cola Ham

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1 teaspoon Horseradish
1/4 cup Cola (not Diet)
4 pounds Precooked Ham

Directions:
Mix the mustard, horseradish and brown sugar together. Mix in a small amount of cola to form a paste and rub all over the ham. Put the ham in the crockpot and pour the remaining cola over the ham. Cook on high for 1 hour and then set on low for 6-7 hours.

Charles.....

One of my BFFs Kara had her baby!!! A baby boy named Charles was born friday night (11/7)!!! From what I understand he's doing great-but Kara needs our prayers!!! She's on antibiotics and is having some issues with fevers and maybe post op stuff!! Just be praying for her!!

Thanks!!! Love ya Kara!!! Can't wait to meet Charlie!!!

I'm praying 7x7

You'll see the new button on the side of the blog-when I figure out how-I'll make it linkable and you can use it to get to this blog entry. I'm completely fascinated with this kind woman's blog and her story-please feel free to go there and see what her blog is all about!!! She has challenged so many of us to pray scripture over our children 7 times a day for 7 days!!! I hope it goes so much longer than that for me!!!! I am working on writing these out on notecards and hanging them around the house!!! Here is the generic version-feel free to put your child's name in-copy and paste it yourself!!! I have one for Max and one for B!!!

1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for he/she has put his/her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up (his/her) soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)

2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)

3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)

4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)

5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)

6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

Wow!!! Can you get excited about this!!!? I know I am!!! I've been needing a revolution happen in my prayer life and I feel this is it!!! I want to encourage you to do the same!!! Feel free to email me or leave a comment if you feel led to do this!!! And tell all your mom friends!!

I'm sick.....

This isn't directly pregnancy related-except I think the pregnancy may have exacerbated it!! I have a cold that may actually just be allergies. Darn Ohio Indian Summer!!! It was 70s all week and I think whatever has me allergic was in full affect!!! Plus we're working on that basement (we need space, remember?) and well basements are damp and dusty. So I have no voice and a horrible cough!!! Luckily, my husband and son don't have it which has convinced me even more that it's allergies. My problem is that I just can't get enough sleep to get over this. When I lay down I cough. I hack. I don't sleep!!!!

Pray that I can get over this. I work all weekend!! Ugh....


And I'm patiently waiting an update on my BFF Kara...she's being induced today....and we're eager to find out if Kid L is a bouncing baby boy or girl!!!

Recipe additions....

I've been cooking at home more since we're on a stricter budget (I have mentioned the new kid coming this spring and my desire for a finished basement, right??). So I have been trying lots of new recipes and expanding my cooking options. I have a few recipe blogs I love and I'll post those sometime soon-but I need a place to save some recipes to try and keep. I usually use my laptop upstairs to blog and search online and my printer is in the "unfinished" basement so running down there isn't always convenient to pickup printouts. Also-I want to try things before I commit them to my cookbook. In leui of starting a new blog-I'll just add some recipes to my already filled with thoughts on parenting and mommyhood blog!!! No one minds, right?

So here's the first installment!! Katie-she has an amazing cooking blog and I met her on my mommy chat board-her famous recipe is bourbon chicken which I've made and love. It's nicknamed Crack Chicken on our board!!! Well, someone adapted it to the crockpot...and I love me some crockpot cooking!!! I haven't tried the crockpot version but here it is:


Bourbon Chicken - Crockpot style
3 lbs boneless chicken breasts
1 garlic clove crushed
1/4 teaspoon ginger
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp of corn starch
Cut chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Mix all ingredients into your crockpot, throw in the chicken. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4.

The recipe isn't that different from the original but I wanted to save the list and directions here. When I did make this-I doubled the sauce-I like sauce over my rice.

More recipes to come-I'm sure!!!

Early Morning....

Between my cold, the anxiety of the election, and going to bed at 9pm, I woke up this morning at 4!!! Grrrr....doesn't my body know I need sleep to get over this cold and take care of both Baby B and Mr Max!!! So I laid in bed a while, then decided to look at our budget, then decided to work in the basement. We're having an estimate next week for finishing our basement and we have lots of work to do down there before it's fit to have someone look at it. So just this morning I've added 1 large garbage bag of trash and emptied 2 clothes baskets. Yay!!!! I'm wanting some starbucks but their website doesn't have information about store hours on it...what kind of website is that!!!!??? So I'll go back to sorting some more and maybe head out about 6 or so. Surely they're open by then, don't ya think!!!?