Friday, September 28, 2012

ten happy things friday

one
I washed all the new baby's (newborn sized) clothes this week and they are hanging in my closet. She's going to be in our room for a while until she's (mostly) sleeping through the night so it makes sense to have her clothes there, too. Anyhow, having her clothes there makes me even more excited to meet her!

two
Vanilla ice cream with crushed pretzels and reese's peanut butter cups.

three
I really like my new jeans that aren't maternity (just a few million sizes bigger than pre preggo size). They are so comfortable.

four
Nap time is already over?! Rose took a much needed nap today (sort of seemed short, though).

five
The way Rose talks. It's adorable.

six
I think heavy cream is way better than regular milk in coffee.

seven
I've had a pretty good week.

eight
This morning D's teacher complimented him about his good manners. She said he always waits his turn to speak and is the most polite, always saying please, thank you and you're welcome. (Totally a "we're doing something right!" parenting moment.)

nine
Dinners this week have been so good!

ten
Ready to have some cake tonight for my Opa's birthday!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Almost like Lions and Tigers and Bears- Oh my!

Our friend Carson has a game camera set up at the back of our place. We checked out the pictures on it last night and I thought I'd share what the camera caught.

First, there are a few deer that we've been watching for months now and you'll get to see the older one- Sam Elliot (yes, they get named). Secondly, there are a lot of wild hogs (terrible creatures) that come through and tear up things. They get huge. The one you will see has been named... Mr. Balls. (I didn't name him.) Then we see a family of racoons, I counted nine on one of the pictures. They climb the legs of the feeder and hang upside down trying to get to the feed. They climb on the camera, too.
Ah, but let's see the pictures!

Sam Elliot

Mr. Balls

Roxanne (I did name her)
The racoons crack me up and I will probably do a post with just them sometime soon.

I've saved the best for last. Here's a rare sight- a bobcat. (At least it wasn't that damn mountain lion.)

This was the last picture on the card, taken yesterday morning. I saw it and promptly flipped out. It's a big bobcat, too. The boys absolutely went crazy with their questions. Watch out Roxanne.

This morning on the way to school we saw a coyote run across the road and into a field. D was so excited because he saw it, too (the kids rarely get to see coyotes, but they do hear them a lot). He couldn't wait to tell all his friends at school about the bobcat and coyote.

And that, my friends, is part of this life in the country. I think it's a lot of fun.

P.S. I think we came up with a name for the bobcat last night, but I can't remember... any suggestions? Maybe Bert?

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Who's Birthday Is It?


On the menu:
Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, homemade cream gravy (maybe a vegetable if I get crazy)
Homemade peach cobbler & Blue Bell ice cream

Inside the gift bag:
Impulse purchases made this morning

It's Tim's birthday.



I got all crazy and bought that for you on itunes (last week and I forgot and never told you... until now.)

Ich liebe dich and happy birthday.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Little Lady


Daddy's girl steals his favorite chair every day. She's "belaxing".

(Relaxing for those of you who don't speak toddler.)

She's also giving me "the look" because I'm standing in front of her cartoons (Daniel Tiger).

Monday, September 24, 2012

28 weeks


To be technical I'm actually 28 weeks 3 days. And we all love that pretty picture, don't we?

I guess now that I'm in the third trimester my body decided it was time to loosen up. If you've been pregnant before then you know I'm referring to the relaxin hormone that makes all your joints... relax! Basically my hips are falling apart preparing for the arrival of this child. My lower back is in a constant state of "ouch" that is only relieved by laying (lying?) down. I asked the doctor last week if there was anything I could do about my back pain and he suggested a support band for my growing belly. (I laughed.) He also told me that this little baby was going to triple in size over the next three months. Oh, right, I knew that. But it's not the baby! It's my joints! I feel so old. My second pregnancy was the most painful on my body, but this one is well on it's way to taking that title. And now I will end my complaining. Can I have a cookie?

Am I craving anything lately? Not really. I am slightly obsessed with all things pumpkin, but I think that is due to the Season of Pumpkin and not pregnancy. I had a pumpkin smoothie, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pancakes this weekend. Totally normal. (This child might be orange when she's born.) Mainly, if it's edible I will probably eat it. Unless it's jelly or raisins... or jello. Gross times three.

Still on an emotional roller coaster, which is Tim's favorite! Just kidding, but that guy is seriously so patient with my random crying and moodiness. I am baking him a cake this weekend (mostly due to his birthday).

Baby girl is between 2 and 3 pounds now, likes to jab at my ribs and roll over or turn, I don't know, but it's uncomfortable. Braxton Hicks contractions are abundant, especially if I get up really fast or have to carry or hold Rose more than 10 minutes.

The baby does have a name, but don't worry, I'm not sharing it until the big arrival post. I'm seeing the doc every two weeks now and I have an awesome goal of not gaining more than a pound a week. I don't know if that's even realistic. Especially with 7 birthdays, Halloween and Thanksgiving between now and due day. Laughable.

That's all for this update. I'm off to indulge in a salad now. (My fav!) Everyone else needs to have a piece of cake for me. Oh, and I passed the glucose test, just got that call from the nurse. Happy dance.

Friday, September 21, 2012

ten happy things friday

one
This morning I had a little impulse to get things organized so I washed, sorted and put away 3 loads of laundry. Now I am moving on to figuring out where to stash the baby clothes I was loaned and try a different shoe organizing system. I feel like a sort of accomplished something.

two
My appointment went well yesterday and I got to hear our little girl's heartbeat again. I'm 28 weeks today.... time is really flying by!

three
The cool air in the mornings this week.

four
Sort of proud that I haven't had ice cream in 2 or 3 weeks.

five
I love these new pants I got from Old Navy. They are either "lounge" pants or yoga pants, but they are so comfortable.

six
I'm craving something sweet so I think I'm going to make a couple loaves of pumpkin bread. One for me and one for everyone else to share.

seven
Reeses peanut butter chips (the kind you put in cookies).

eight
Just a couple more hours until Tim is home and the weekend officially begins.

nine
The apple strudel I had for breakfast yesterday.

ten
Chocolate cake. (Only I don't have any, but it is good stuff.)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

well, it's Wednesday

Trying on baby shoes
My sister in law gave me some baby clothes and shoes yesterday. Just in time, too, as I was thisclose to loading an online shopping cart after I counted the 4 body suits and 4 sleepers I purchased a few months ago and having a mild panic attack about the clothing situation. Seeing as how I only have about 12 weeks left to the due date (and I have never made it to a due date yet, so I'm aiming to be ready two weeks early) I am starting to get a hint of the nesting instinct. Just a hint.

Tomorrow I get to do the very fun glucose test at the doctor's office. Thankfully my doctor has never made me drink the orange syrupy stuff that I've always heard about. Instead of doing that I get to fast all night long and then arrive early at the office have some blood drawn and then I am sent off to eat a high sugar breakfast before getting my blood taken again. It's the only time that it's very much okay and encouraged to eat a giant cinnamon roll or doughnuts or pancakes with lots of syrup. After that I am back to my well balanced diet of cookies, pumpkin muffins and cheerios  scrambled eggs, salads and lean meats. Sounds so appealing doesn't it?

There's not much else to say. I am about to go pick up my big kindergartener and then make supper. Oh, we survived chapel today. Barely, but we did and it felt like success.
Wiedersehen!


Monday, September 17, 2012

slimmed down weekend

We had a good weekend. There were redbox movies on Friday night; The Ghost and The Darkness, Hunger Games and The Lorax. I couldn't even stay in the room while The Lorax was playing, but it was for the kids and honestly, I don't think they really cared for it either. The other two movies were more to my liking.

Saturday Tim got up early and went dove hunting with some of his friends. Rose woke up at about the same time the door shut behind him so I was essentially up then, too, since I never fell back to sleep. We went to Tim's parents' house to watch football and the kids fell asleep on their couch... I think maybe I "rested my eyes" for a few minutes.

Sunday we woke early and I was excited about meeting our little Sunday school class.... The kids are fun; there were only 5 this week. I've already got the activity for next week ready!

Today I'm trying so hard to get things done around here, but a sinus headache seems like a good excuse to only do minimal work. And to make chicken and dumplings. Better post tomorrow? We hope so.

Friday, September 14, 2012

ten happy things friday

one
Today I'm 27 weeks and entering the third (and final) trimester of this pregnancy. Where has the time gone?

two
Pumpkin bread. I made a loaf yesterday afternoon and this morning we finished it at breakfast. It is SO good!

three
A little cool front came through and dropped the temps down into the 80s and brought some much needed rain.

four
D is going on his first field trip today to the public library to listen to a Texas author read a book (I assume a book that they wrote). Field trips are so much fun.

five
On the menu this coming week I'm making chicken and dumplings and chili (that will probably end up on frito pies).

six
The first bite of a doughnut.

seven
Metallic Mango nail lacquer. Or as I like to call it, Burnt Orange nail polish... close enough anyhow, depends on the lighting.

eight
I'm going to bake a lot this weekend. Maybe. I'm at least going to bake some cookies and we'll probably have pumpkin waffles or pancakes for breakfast.

nine
I wonder if I asked nicely enough if someone would make me a cappuccino this weekend? (Totally looking at you, Tim.)

ten
I made a lot of smoothies this week with my new Ninja blender that my mom got me (she claims it makes life easier). I like it a lot.

Y'all have a good weekend!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

always exciting

We'll start with our weekend. Saturday night, after playing and running around all day, D suddenly decided it was time to tell us his ear was hurting "really bad". And he "couldn't hear" out of it. OH. This was after 8pm as I was shuttling him into the shower.... So I made him take a shower and then I gave him some children's advil, heated a sock full of rice and attempted to "make it better". I've never had an ear infection and until then none of the kids had ever had one, so I didn't really know what to do besides consult Dr. Google and my pediatric wellness books' symptom charts. I asked D how long his ear had been hurting and he said very matter of factly, "Since I woke up." I don't know why he waited ALL day to say something.

Sunday morning he slept later than everyone. We were already eating breakfast before Tim went and woke him up and then D just sat at the table staring at his pancakes. I took his temperature and he said his ear was still hurting... So one phone call to the after hours nurse line and we had us an appointment for a Sunday afternoon doctor visit. To add to our awesome morning it was our first Sunday as Sunday school teachers and I had to stay home with D. Tim had to go alone and spent the whole time trying to learn kids' names. I felt really terrible I wasn't able to help, but I couldn't really do anything about our situation; I just hope next weekend is better. Anyhow, D has a middle ear infection and is feeling better now that we have our antibiotics and prescription ear drops (that he hates).

Monday rolled around and D went to school while I went to town to visit the bank. Actually I called my mom and we ended up going together and we got to see my dad at work.

My dad is a custom home builder so it's always fun seeing him at work and what awesome things he is doing. The kids wanted to stay and be helpers, but I think they are a little too young to actually be helpful at this point.

Well, I am heading back out the door to help my mom design invitations for my Opa's surprise birthday party at the end of the month. Then I have to come home and make tortillas for taco night.Once you make homemade tortillas it's really hard to go back to buying the mass produced kind.

Adios!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

food all the time


I'm so glad blogger is letting me post a picture! It's about time. This is from Sunday when the boys were out dove hunting. (They were really just observers.) Also, this picture has nothing to do with this post.

I really want to make some pumpkin bread, but since the mercury is still stuck in the triple digits I am waiting ever so patiently until Saturday when the high is only supposed to be 92. That's practically sweater weather! Juuuussst kidding.

Speaking of food, I made this Honey (Bourbon) Chicken on Monday and I am becoming slightly obsessed with when I will make it again. I want it right now, but I'm making stew tonight and I don't have enough honey or any chicken, so I can't make it now anyhow. What would I do different with this recipe? Make more. You could probably use close to 2 pounds of chicken (I used 1.5) since I ended up with lots of sauce (I poured it over some green beans at lunch the next day). I didn't sprinkle any sesame seeds on it and I didn't add any red pepper flakes since the kids were eating. When I first read the recipe I almost discarded it because it called for a whole cup of honey! Have you bought honey lately? It's not cheap. Anyhow I almost didn't use a whole cup, but I tasted the glaze before I added it to the crock pot and ended up making it a cup. So, just follow the recipe. (I used 1 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken the sauce.) And... no, there's no bourbon in the recipe, but I read through a lot of comments from that post and someone said it originated on Bourbon Street in Louisiana. I'm sure if you really wanted to make it with bourbon you could have a few sips while you were waiting for it to cook in the crock pot. I'm giving this recipe a million stars.

That's all for now. I need to find a snack so I can replenish my energy and finish making supper. Basically, I just said I have to eat so I can make something to eat. Stop judging, I'm pregnant- best excuse ever!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Tuesday

Well, our long weekend is over and it's back to business as usual. It's also back to being hot, too hot for September. I have lived here my entire life and still expect the calendar flip from August to September to immediately change the weather as well. It never does. There is football, school is in session and fall decorations are out in full force in the stores, but the heat is not relenting. I can't even take the kids to the park in the morning without feeling like I'm in a sauna due to the humidity. Woa, sorry about that tiny rant. I've been trying so hard this summer not to talk about the weather.

Anyhow... D came down with either some severe allergies or he caught a cold. Yesterday we planned on going to a fun (and free!) museum, but by noon the big guy was acting like he couldn't bare to move a muscle so we called our spontaneously planned trip off in order for him to rest. He was not pleased at all, however he fell asleep about 20 minutes later. Last night he barely ate anything and I put him in bed thinking there was almost no chance he would feel up to going to school this morning. D likes school too much to let some congestion keep him at home, though. We trudged through our morning routine and I doubted very much he would even last through the morning at school, but decided if he felt like going I should at least let him try.

By the time we got to school he had perked up considerably compared to how he was acting at home. I explained to his teacher (she is so awesome!) how he was feeling and that if she felt like he wasn't able to pay attention or seemed miserable that I would certainly pick him up. She promised to keep an eye on him and so far I haven't heard from the school, so I will take it that he's doing okay. He was sitting at his table getting ready to color when I left and he gave me a big smile, which was reassuring.

(D made it through school! He's still feeling a little down, though.)

Now I think that I will continue with the endless task of laundry that I started a million years ago. I'm getting closer and closer to selecting a weeks worth of nice clothing to stay in the closet and throwing the rest out.... I can't decide if it would make life easier (less laundry) or harder (keeping up with the laundry). Right now, being pregnant and all, I only have about a weeks worth of acceptable clothing anyhow. And still wearing out the same pair of jeans from my first blessed pregnancy 6 whole years ago... Let's hope they stay together for 3.5 more months!