Hello!

Ah, internet!!!!

After 10 days, 10 different friends helping us pack uncountable boxes, four people helping move all of our stuff into 2 storage units and 3 families kind enough to let us keep some small items at their homes (freezer items, plants, computer stuff) we did make it out of our house by June 20th!

The next 4 days were spent at our church's annual bible camp which was super fun as well as exhausting. My son apparently does not know how to unwind and fall asleep after doing SO much playing with other kids all day so sleep was a bit hard to come by. I wish I were able to upload some pictures because I've got a ton of cute ones.

After spending a couple of nights at some wonderful friends of ours we drove 780 miles to Las Vegas to visit my mother in law. Which is where we've been for the last week. It's been so nice to visit with her, she's been so generous with everything. I have had internet access for a week now but her computer is in the room my son is sleeping in so I haven't had a really good opportunity.

I'm 34 weeks along right now and after a weekend with too many braxton hicks contractions things seem to have slowed down. We are leaving to drive home tomorrow on the 4th and the tenants who've been renting our other house for the last almost two years have said that they will be out by the 5th not the 12th as we previously thought. We'll be able to move back in starting in two days I guess! Yippeee!!!!! Being temporarily without a permanent place hasn't been so bad after all!

I'd imagine that it'll be another week before our internet gets hooked up at the house so I'll be able to post some pictures and get reconnected then. My hubby took one of me yesterday when we were walking around the Bellagio hotel so you'll get to see my hugeness when we get all the computer stuff hooked up! Till then, Happy 4th of July! Oh, and can you believe with all this craziness I totally missed my blogiversary! I can't believe it's been that long.

Here's a link to last years 4th of July picture.

Wonderful News!

No, no baby yet LOL, we have accepted an offer on our house!!! Since we've been waiting 10 months for an offer we've been both stunned and celebrating since Saturday. The reality hit today when we passed inspection and realized that we have to be moved out in less than a week!!!

Even though closing is on the 21st we are going to our church's annual family camp on the 20th so we need to be moved out by the 19th. HELLO that's in 6 days and boy am I thankful for all the nesting that I've been doing. But I'm looking around feeling very overwhelmed at the amount of stuff still needing to be packed!!!!

I'm having a packing party on Friday with some friends - can you believe the dork I feel like calling and inviting people to come over for a free lunch and help me pack!!! I'm lucky and grateful that so far all have said yes to come and help me one day or another! If you have a spare prayer one for my sanity would be much appreciated!!!

I am craving my blogging addiction and it looks like there is no relief in sight since for the next 6 days I'm packing then for the 5 days after that we're camping and playing (what a nice relief that will be.) Then when we return we are temporarily homeless since we have tenants renting the house we'll be moving into who have just been given their notice so they won't be out until July 12th!!!! I know that all will work out and God is so amazing - I'm just in awe at all the blessings we have. I'm not certain how often I'll be able to get online since not having a permanent residence for 3 weeks or so usually means no internet....sigh...

Yipppppeeeeee!!!! It sold before the baby came!!!! Now I'm just praying we get through the next week smoothly!!!!

Random Snippets

Goodness, life has a way of running away. My brain has been working in random ways today so this post is bound to be varied!

I can't believe that I'm 30 weeks along already - seriously where did these months go. It's hard to fathom that in 7 weeks I could have a baby that's considered full term!!! Yikes!

Thanks to Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing a huge box of stuff arrived at my doorstep from Mason & Matisse. Talk about a ton of fun stuff for our us to have with our new arrival coming soon!

Until earlier today I hadn't turned on the computer in days, I've been both nesting and just letting myself focus on my "real world" a bit more. I do realize it's been forever since I blessed you all with a picture of my prego belly so I'll be doing that this week.

I can't promise to read all 600+ feeds in my bloglines so if I missed something extra special please let me know...please!! It's amazing how I feel that many of you are like close friends even though we've never and probably won't ever meet face to face.

I've been feeling very anxious and excited about meeting our new daughter face to face. I'm nervous about the adjustment time. How will my son and my relationship fare? Will I still be able to give him the attention and love he needs? I thought about this today as I sat rubbing his back singing him to sleep for his nap. For the last almost three years if he's taken a nap (where he didn't fall asleep in the car) I've put him to sleep either by nursing or rocking or now that he's in his own bed rubbing his back. Of course this is just on the occasions that he actually naps, 3-4 times a week or so, but I've been treasuring these afternoon times since it's one thing I'm pretty sure I won't be able to do with a teeny tiny one around. I know that's ok and I'm blessed that I've had so many special times with him until now and I do know that there will be plenty more to come.

I'm also so very excited to have another little body to nurse and cuddle, to sleep in our bed at night and to carry in a sling. I'm thrilled to see how our son grows to love her, care for her and be the big brother he is meant to be. I just can't wait to look into her eyes and prove to myself that this love I feel is real and that she's so real. Just to see her little face knowing that she is our precious gift from God for a time. I've glimpsed how fast it will go in the last three years and I know it's not slowing down.

I'm looking forward to all the small and large milestones alike with both of them together. The joy that I have giving each of them the other for a sibling is off the charts. I know that they will only be better people having each other in our family. I absolutely adore that when my son comes into our bed for his morning cuddles he'll hold on to my husband and I and say, "We all a family. Family in bed cuddles. Mommy Daddy,(his name), and baby sister." Even he knows that she's already a part of our family even though she won't officially be arriving for a couple more months!

LOL!!!!

Thanks Stephanie!!!!! It must be my lucky week!

Go visit Adventurese in Babywearing for her next contest from Cheeky Jewelry!. I don't often wear too much jewelry besides a necklace my hubby gave me and my wedding rings. I know I'm the exception so go get yourself entered to win!!!

Who me????

I won!!!! We all know that the wonderful women at 5 minutes for mom have terrific contests each week. I wanted to say thank you to Susan and Janice for having a great site (which I thought even before I won!) and for making blogging that much more fun for the rest of us!!!

So in about 2-4 weeks I'll be able to show you a wonderful personalized alphabet book from Amy at Sweet Arts Design. These are so sweet, and Amy's customer service has been wonderful. We'll be getting the English and Spanish one. I think it will be a perfect gift for our little guy!!

Plus there's another contest going on at Adventures in Babywearing. Stephanie's giving away a bunch of great stuff from Mason & Matisse. I'm kind of last minute posting about this but you have until 9am tomorrow to go and enter!!!

'Puter Time

It wouldn't be a normal day around here lately without my son asking to use the computer. "Mommy want to click on Clifford." Or Teletubbies or Elmo or whoever from the PBS website.

I'm amazed at how fast he's able to use the mouse and click on things and figure the games out. Not to mention that I think he's too little to be playing games on the computer. Oh, well! I know that he's happy to now be able to have his own time on Mommy's computer!

Teriyaki sauce in a flash

Tonight I made a dinner that my husband referred to as "the most frequently eaten meal in our house." I had never really thought about it that way but I do make it quite often - about 3 times a month or so.

I bake chicken thighs coated with Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Sauce and tonights sides were cous cous and broccoli. Fortunately since my hubby made that comment tonight I already had a different spin on things.

I didn't have any of my favorite teriyaki sauce on hand so I decided to make my own. I found a few recipes online that sounded good and I mixed and matched and just "eyeballed it" as Rachel Ray would say. My hubby raved about it, I thought it was even better than the other and my son said "This awesome!" (After about 5 times we figured out what he was saying!!)

Here are my guesstimates on amounts for a recipe:

Whisk together all of the following:

1. 1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
2. 3 Tblsp Honey
3. 1-2 Tblsp Rice vinegar
4. 1-2 Tblsp Sesame oil
5. 2 large cloves garlic minced
6. a 1 inch piece of ginger minced
7. 1-2 Tblspns sesame seeds lightly toasted over Med/High heat

I have rice vinegar and sesame oil as a staple in my pantry but I'm sure you can substitute other types of vinegar and oil and the final product would turn out just as well. Remember - I didn't measure anything - which is one reason I'm writing this so that I can try to remember for next time!!!!

BTW this took about 5-10 minutes, basically about the time it took my oven to preheat and I was ready to go.

7 things

Linds of Rocking Chair Reflections tagged me for this fun meme about 7 things you don't know about me. I'm not sure if you know them or not but here goes!

Here are the rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I don't follow the news as much as I should. (Take the rise in the price of stamps this week, I found out from a friend the next day. Yup I mailed stuff on Monday with the old postage. Oh well.)

2. I'm most comfortable being barefoot around the house.

3. I make up random songs throughout the day besides singing "normal" songs. I'm afraid my son might think it's normal for people to just bust out singing amidst every day life! :)

4. I have 2 tattoos. One on my ankle that is a Chinese symbol that means "dancing clouds" the other a butterfly on my left shoulder blade.

5. I never really liked writing in school. In fact if someone told me in H.S. that I'd be writing on the internet where anyone else could read it I'd have been SO embarrassed for my future self!

6. I don't like shopping for myself at all.

7. I am often wishy washy when it comes to making decisions and I can often see both sides of an argument or issue. Basically I do a lot of research and thinking before I obtain an opinion of something.

If you're reading this you are tagged if you want to play, just let me know in the comments!!!

Missing the dirt under my nails

I've updated my keep or tosspost to let you know what I decided! Also, If you missed the Make If From Scratch Carnival like I did today there are some really cool things up this week.

This past Saturday we went to a hike and Mother's Day craft at a local nature learning center. It was totally free and my son loved painting me this gorgeous pot and planting the little yarrow plant. Can ya'll tell I'm loving my first little crafty Mother's Day gift!!!???!!!

I love looking through the paper on Saturday mornings for a family activity for us. Many times things are free like this one was which is an added bonus. We also love to pack a picnic lunch and find somewhere to eat - we've done this almost every nice weekend this spring so far.

Anyway, having a new potted plant around made me really miss my garden. This time last year we had beets, broccoli, spinach and lettuce coming up already and my tomatoes were almost ready to get into the ground along with others. This year the only thing in the garden is lettuce - a ton since I let a couple plants go to seed last year and a few spinach plants. We've been enjoying these at most meals but I'm wishing I had just planted stuff even though we are selling our house.

I don't want to complain because I am lucky to live in a place with many farmers markets to purchase wonderful local produce, I just love tending to the garden. It's my soul food in the summer, a time when I can see God's hand at work in the soil and when I can get some treasured quiet minutes each evening while I weed or harvest a squash for dinner.

After our hike and picnic on Saturday my hubby took our son to the grocery store so he could get a few things for dinner for that night and Sunday. (He grilled me a delicious eggplant at my request and it was the best!) Usually when they both go somewhere I wander, not knowing quite what to do with myself. Wander around putting laundry away, debate taking a nap, blogging, doing the dishes, watching tv, etc. But that day I went out to my little seedlings, I planted them a little late, but I'm sure they'll grow to give me fruit. I potted two tomato plants and two basil plants. The tomatoes will need to be potted up once more since these pots are still to small but they work for now and I'll still be able to taste some fruits of my labor this year even with a new baby due and a move in the future.

Keep or toss...

UPDATE: Thanks for your feedback!!! I've decided to clean and box up my wedding dress and keep my flute since I remembered how to play a scale or two. I kept a few magazines from after 9/11 but decided that the newspapers can be looked up at the library or online in the future if needed.

Wedding bouquet = garbage (pictures do it WAY better justice) Cassette tapes = garage sale except 4 (couldn't part with Billy Joel and a few mixed tapes people made for me) - then trash if they don't sell. Bank statements and old bills gone. Random gifts - most are being sold (I've re gifted everything that could be already) or given away.

So far 5 bins and 3 boxes of stuff have turned into 2 bins of stuff to keep!!!!! 1 overflowing bin and 2 boxes to sell/ give away, and a couple bags of garbage/recycling!!! Hello, that is 6 less boxes to move!! Wahooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

Our subdivision is having a huge garage sale the first weekend in June so in the next few days I'm putting everything on ebay or craigslist. Whatever doesn't sell by the garage sale will be sold there and anything left donated and we'll be FREE from more stuff!!!

I'm going through more stuff and I'd love to know what you did (or would do)with some of this stuff! Note: my inclination is to sell/give/toss away most of this.

Your wedding bouquet - assuming you didn't have it professionally preserved and it's just a dried pile of flowers now!

On that note your wedding dress.

Your old cassette tapes that have been in a bin for at least three years and it's probably been much longer than that since you've actually fired them up in the tape player.

How long to you keep bank statements for? For a closed account?For that matter old bills?

My flute - which I gave up playing my freshman year

Some random gifts that you've never used but feel obligated to keep?

ALL of my 1/2 finished or not started craft projects are in the give away or sell pile (one and a half bins full)- I kept a pad of tracing paper and a few other small things for kids craft uses. The only other unfinished crafts are my wedding/honeymoon albums and my son's baby album.

Can you believe that I even had a rubbermaid tub full of newspapers from the couple of months after 9/11. I have NO idea why I saved them all nor do I know why I moved them - twice now...never again!!!

I'm just loving not feeling the tug on my heartstrings about keeping all this stuff - it is after all just stuff!

Happy Mother's Day!!! I'm so grateful to have so many wonderful mothers in my life. My Grandma who is our family matriarch, she leads us by her example in her faith, strength and love - she still keeps us all together!!! My own Mom who has taught me so much and is the most wonderful person - love you Mom! My MIL who I also call Mom since she's just the best. I even have a step MIL and many Aunts who are also wonderful examples of Moms! I'm wonderfully grateful to have friends who are Moms to learn from and cherish wonderful visits with!!! (Even virtual visits!)

Somehow I missed this great post of Sarah's over at Walk Slowly, Live Wildly. It's long but worth the read, I like her inspiring views of the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Have you heard the song by Martina Mcbride called "In My Daughter's Eyes." I recently heard it for the first time and I just love the lyrics. (If I was a super-duper blogger I'd embed it here for you to listen to but I still haven't spent the time to figure that out!!!)

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero, I am strong and wise and I know no fear. But the truth is plain to see, she was sent to rescue me. I see who I wanna be, In my daughter's eyes.

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal, darkness turns to light and the world is at peace. This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak, I find reason to believe In my daughter's eyes.

And when she wraps her hand around my finger, oh it puts a smile in my heart. Everything becomes a little clearer I realize what life is all about.

It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough, it's giving more when you feel like giving up. I've seen the light, It's in my daughter's eyes.

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future, a reflection of who I am and what will be though she'll grow and someday leave, maybe raise a family, when I'm gone I hope you see how happy she made me. For I'll be there, In my daughter's eyes

The Life

My son's current favorite thing to do is play outside, if we're not out there he's asking to go. Today most of our day was spent in the back yard and I'm loving it...he's even taking naps again!!!!

We have a pond in the back yard that's about 18 inches deep so I feel that he still needs supervision out there but if I'm extra tired, I can lay on a couch and see him playing in the sandbox or on his toys. I'll also open a window so I can hear him - which prevents me from falling asleep!

Ahhh, if only we could do this everyday - when our house sells I suppose we can, at least more often!!!!

Liquid Laundry Soap

Awhile ago I mentioned about making homemade laundry soap. It worked very well but I did notice that it took awhile for the grated soap pieces to dissolve in cold water washes. I decided to try making a liquid version - the same basic ingredients the soap is just melted first.

The recipe (which I found all over the internet):1/3 bar Fels Naptha (or ivory or zote) soap, 1/2 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup borax powder ~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. add 6 cups water and heat on medium until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax, stir until it is dissolved and remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket and then add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use 1/2 cup per load.

I didn't really think ahead and thought we had a bucket - apparently we don't! I'll be finding one before my next batch though because I couldn't add the last 6 cups of water which would probably make it more liquidy. It's a pretty stiff gel this way but it works!

It dissolves much faster on cold setting - and even if it's a little more work this should be enough for 64 loads and cost me about $1 to make one batch. Worth it if you ask me!

Movies

Seen any good movies lately??? Last month we saw 300 in the theater and other than the gruesome violence (it is a war story after all) I thought it was very good.

Other than that the movies we've rented in the last few months have been pretty bad. Currently, however we are halfway through Dream Girls which I'm finding I quite good, we paused it so my hubby could go have a chat with our new neighbors. They have about 6 kids running outside screaming and playing like 14 year olds do at 9:45 PM. Totally fine since it is in their yard after all but my son's room is about 6 feet away from the side yard where most of the loudness seems to be coming from. Hopefully they won't think we are rude for asking them to keep it down just in the side yard - otherwise we're selling this house and moving anyway so they won't have such prissy neighbors for long!

Back to movies, we also rented The Pursuit of Happyness so I'll have to see how that one goes - I'm assuming I'll be crying a bunch.

Oh, we recently rented A Night at the Museum which I thought was great - funny and predictable but very light and entertaining. I used to LOVE a good scary movie or psychological thriller, I don't know if I'm just getting old or what but I just don't like them anymore. I think now I'm happier with movies like A Night at the Museum!!!!

Beating a dead horse?

Yeah, I've been on an environmental kick lately - as well as learning to be more frugal with our money.

I know that Eco bags are all the rage lately and rightfully so, they are wonderful. I have had a couple that have lasted years and years sitting in the closet since my son was born. I recently got them out and dusted them off ;) while trying to justify spending the money right now for a few more.

Things are tight and I just couldn't do it BUT last week when I did my shopping I saw that my local Fred Meyer had these Earthwise Reusable Bags for $0.99 each. I could justify that...and bought a few. Just thought I'd let you know that while I still like the large mesh style of the Eco bags they are sort of pricey, so if you are on a budget the earthwise bags are also an option.

I was shocked when I read on one of the links on their site that...

The U.S. uses 100 billion plastic bags annually, consuming about 12 million barrels of oil. As less than 1% of plastic bags are ever recycled, using a sturdy reusable bag will eliminate hundreds to thousands of plastic bags over its lifetime. That spells huge savings to your state, city or town. Take California for example: it costs taxpayers $20.5 million to collect and landfill plastic bag waste each year. And that's not counting external costs, such as pollution, risk and threat to marine life, etc.

***Also, keeping up with Heather's recovery and the scripture that her hubby shared really spoke to me today. Checking my bloglines it was a nice reminder to say another prayer for her when almost every blog I read had something posted - praying now for her strong recovery....

Prayers and other bloggy stuf

Heather's surgery is tomorrow (Thursday) it overwhelms me to imagine what her and her family are going through. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

The gals at 5 minutes for Mom are having yet another contest. (They are totally the best!) This one is for a Mei Tai baby carrier from All Natural Mommies. They are having many other give aways from now until Mother's Day and you don't even have to be a blogger to sign up to win! (If your not a blogger and you don't want the Mei Tai you could still sign up to win it and give it to someone who's having a baby say mid-August - hint hint!!!)

Steph from Adventures in Babywearing is also having a contest. She's also got fun prizes going on and all you've got to do is post your pic without make up. Since I hardly wear make up I'm just re posting this picture - cropped!

Heather and her family are heavy on my heart.

Pregnancy Dreams

This pregnancy I've been dreaming about random people that I haven't seen in years - like people from high school. I've also had other scary dreams but last night's was just silly

Basically I dreamed that I had this baby a few days before Christmas, about 4 months late!!! Hello! And I delivered at Church. The church was very large (much different from the church we really go to) but all the same people were still there.

Then after delivery they took her away somewhere and I showered, dressed and went out to the service where my Mom promptly told me that she hated the name we chose. Hello, I know she'd never do that! So I went looking for my precious bundle that was no where to be found and ended up outside the church - which was apparently a large boat. I went onto a smaller boat which was attached to it and I found my hubby and baby. We changed her middle name and then I woke up....

Have any weird pregnancy (or not) dreams you'd like to share? I love to hear them!

A lifetime ago

My MIL is in town visiting this weekend so I'm probably not going to be around much. I thought I'd leave you all for the weekend with this picture of me that was taken by my best friend's Dad when I was a senior in high school. He's an excellent photographer!

My dancer self talk immediately sees about 5 things I could be doing better...enjoy!!

Last Night's Pic

For history click here.

Toddler bed transitions

After 2 weeks and two nights in his toddler bed, my son is finally testing the waters by getting out of bed in the evening. I say testing the waters, but we are still so lucky since it was only last Saturday and Sunday nights that he's come out. Twice on Sat once on Sun. My hubby tells him to stay in bed which I back 100%. The one time I was right there when he came out I said that since it was night time he needed to stay in his room and that he could go to sleep wherever he was most comfy - for me that's my bed.

Saturday night we found him like this at 10:30 pm...

Sunday night he was sprawled out on the floor and last night he was in his bed with evidence that he played quietly before turning in!

For several weeks when we switched him from co sleeping with us to his own crib (about 18 months old) we'd find him asleep sitting up in the crib but were never able to get a picture of it because he'd wake up as soon as we walked in. I'm glad that he sleeps more soundly now! I'm also looking forward to having another little one in bed with us!!!

We would have let my son stay longer but we all started to sleep worse and worse and then he was waking up to nurse every 1.5-2 hours again like a newborn. We all were crabby and something had to change, my hubby would go in and parent him to sleep in the night, basically night weaning him. We all survived and with all the not going to sleep issues we had with him I'm glad that we've learned that we can't make our kids go to sleep. Even if we want them to -boy were there times I wanted- it's just not possible for a human to make another go to sleep!

This got long winded awfully fast - off on a tangent I went!

Tackles

First, the Make It From Scratch Carnival is posted over at Stop the Ride!

Since my house is pretty clean still I decided to tackle some projects this week. I went through my hubby's side of the closet and pulled out 14 shirts to give away. Most are from places he used to work or don't fit anymore - I go through my stuff a couple times a year for stuff to give away but it's been awhile since I've gone through Adam's stuff especially his shirts. So that can be added to the give away bags!!!

I also pulled out these three boxes of stuff that my Mom sent to me in 2003. I'd never even opened 2 of them they've just been moved twice and I keep saying someday I'll get to them. They were full of stuff that used to live on my dresser and memorabilia from grade school through high school.

For me I've got to be in the right mood to go through these types of things. If I'm in the "get rid of everything" mode I might get rid of some really great photos and if I'm in a "sentimental mode" I might have wanted to keep engraved glasses from my proms, or programs from plays that I went to see at neighboring schools!

I found some fun pictures that I'll share over the next week or so...you know the really embarrassing ones from 6th - 8th grade! I found Broadway playbills (some with autographs that I kept) and autographed New York City Ballet programs, photo albums from class trips to Philadelphia and chamber choir trips to England. Fun stuff. My Mom, God Bless her, kept newspaper clippings from each semester when they published the kids that made the honor roll (yeah, me the nerd).

I basically decided that if it was something I performed in and my name was in the program I kept it in one of the albums but everything else went. Also, just about all trinkets are in the give away or sell item. Extra bonus, my hubby had fun learning more about me - or the school girl me!

All said and done, I have a box and pile (mostly of sheet music from choir and flute) to sell or give away (to the left in picture). A huge pile of trash and one box of memories (on the right) to keep until the next time I go through it! Actually the one box I'm keeping is still about 1/3 empty so it's not even one box!!!! Yippee, I feel lighter already!

Taking Care of Our Precious Gift

The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man. Psalm 115:16

I'm sure you've heard by now that it's Earth Day on Sunday. I used to walk my dogs on horse trails that went behind a house we lived in for about 4 years. Each year on Earth Day or there abouts I'd take a trash bag and pick up along it and off it where kids had a hang out full of litter.

I'm sure I could find something to do around here too but I'd been reminded about making cleaners and detergents lately so I wanted to give it a whirl. It also didn't hurt my grocery bill to save the 9 bucks a new jug of Bi-O-Kleen laundry liquid would cost. (This brand is very eco friendly but the price of it is causing me to balk lately.)

I made our detergent for years but when I was pregnant with my son somehow I got out of the habit. I followed Stephanie's recipe that she posted on her blog Stop the Ride!. She writes a lot about being more frugal. For me being frugal and environmentally conscious can go hand in hand. If we are cooking from scratch it takes less ingredients to make the same thing as well as less packaging. Next on my list is her recipe for dishwasher detergent when I run out.

I've used vinegar as our fabric softener for a long time and it works great. I also recently bought those dryer balls that not only soften fabrics but decrease drying time (I'd say by about 20% give or take) so that is saving energy too. During the dry winter months some articles of clothing (hubby's pants, fleece jackets) had really bad static cling so I'd put 1/2 a dryer sheet in with only those loads and sometimes even use those twice.

This week in my cleaning frenzy I used diluted vinegar for cleaning most everything - from countertops to stubborn spots on those silly baseboards! I used a small sprinkling of borax on a sponge for nearly everything else that needed more scrubbing - tubs, sinks, toilets. It worked great and so much cheaper than buying different products for everything.

If you are looking for other ways to be more green you can visit Sara at Walk Slowly, Live Wildly. She is constantly making me think.

Also Steph from Adventures in Babywearing wrote a wonderful post about living greener too.

Yet another link to environmentally friendly cleaners.

Open House

I haven't written about it for awhile but our house has been for sale for the last 8 months. I really can't believe it's been that long and I'm still amazed that God has provided for us for these months! Well, we are having an open house on Saturday and I have been going crazy all week doing chores that I suppose all good housewives do on a daily or weekly basis.

Done:Cleaned all bathrooms, wiped baseboards, trim and molding, laundry is caught up and put away, house is clear of cobwebs, gardens are weeded, flowers are potted, window sills dusted, oven cleaned - self cleaned!, hubby touched up paint and has kept up with garage and lawn maintenance and dusted ceiling fans.

Still to do: vacuum, mop, ALL kitchen appliances, wipe kitchen cabinets and counters, put toys away and pack up a box or two of clutter type picture frames etc., sweep back patio and front steps, clean fingerprints off of windows - all while the tornado of two year old follows around "helping"!!!!

I think if we owned an RV or trailer thingy I'd be making us all use the toilet out there for the next couple days - maybe even just live out there so that this place can stay clean. I'm just SO not a super clean freak. I do like it when things are picked up but I could care less about a little dust on my baseboards or a cobweb or two here and there.

It's comforting to know that by Sunday it'll all be back to normal - and I'll be wondering if anyone who came through the house said " wow, look and those baseboards!"

Spreading the love

BooMama is hosting a day today for Heather. Remember to go spread some love around over there today. Especially to pray for Heather and her family.

It's not a cap...

...it's a fedora!

Thanks to Minnesota Cuke!

Peaceful?

Thank you all for your potty training encouragement. Chocolate chips seem to have made me happier and clumsier (more on that later) but with everything else going on in the world it sure is giving me perspective. I am surely blessed! And my prayers go out to those affected by the horrifying events in Virginia.

Need a good laugh...

You know when you are helping your son put on his little tool belt but you don't pay attention to the precise distance between you and the island? Well, be careful or you just might blindly crack your head on the granite counter top giving yourself a golf ball sized lump just above your hairline. Yup I sure did, and I cried (LOL - but it really hurt) and my son grabbed around my neck and said "I've got you Mommy!" Which made me laugh!

Even still today was a wonderfully peaceful day around here until I read about what was going on outside of our little world. Crazy. I wish that people would grasp on to God instead of grasping a gun and taking others out of this world. It's just unthinkable.

Difficult Parenting Decisions

I'm not sure if I just over analyze everything or if my expectations are to high or if I'm just overly emotional from hormones. Whatever the case may be I'm having a hard time making decisions and sticking to them and also just accepting things the way they are.

Is it normal that everytime my son fails for me to feel that I've failed him in some way? Don't get me wrong I know that he MUST fail to learn and that is sometimes the only way he will learn things. Mostly with potty training this week we've fallen off the wagon so to speak. I'm pretty convinced that he just wasn't ready because if I didn't take him every hour - or even more often then there'd be an accident. I guess most of the accidents were because I'd forgotten to take him or been just about to take him and he'd tell me he was going. I'd say maybe 20% of the time he would tell me that he'd have to go and then we'd actually make it to the potty. (He did better with #2 than #1 only a couple of those accidents.) In three weeks, I didn't see much improvement in the number of accidents or the number of times when he'd instigate using the potty. I think it was more that I was training myself to take him every so often and then he'd go, but he still would realize it pretty much too late by himself. Maybe that's why I'd always feel like I was the one that failed? I don't know.

He'd have a day with only one mishap and I'd think yippie and then the next day would start off with 3 before noon.

He'd had a lot of changes this last week, he's been teething (2 year molars) for the last 6 weeks but now constantly telling me that it hurts with his finger on the new tooth (it is finally breaking through), he had a slight cold at the beginning of the week, he's moved out of his crib into a toddler bed (he's been a champ and he loves it, but still a change.) and he's had Grandparents in and out of town staying with us, with more to come in a couple of weeks. Am I just making excuses or like I said are my expectations too high?

I also don't want to crush his spirit...HE was interested and began this potty journey and I don't want to make him feel like he did something wrong that's why we're back in diapers. I'm glad that he wasn't feeling well a couple days because I used that as an excuse - with drinking extra fluids to fight off a cold. He seems ok with it now, he'll say Mommy going poo poo in my diaper or pee, etc. He still will go sit on the potty chair but I'm just hoping that I'm not setting him up to think that later when he is ready he can just have lots of accidents - which he cleans up with rags and piles everything in the laundry room - and then we can go back to the easier diapers.

Like I said I'm probably just being overly sensitive and he wasn't ready. My hubby thinks maybe pull ups or something like that might work better but I'm ready to give it another few weeks before we try anything again. Unless of course my little son wants to dive in. Hopefully this makes some sense to someone who can offer me some encouragement :)!

Who knows, maybe I'm just coming down off of an Easter sugar high, or from lack of chocolate chips (I used them for potty rewards along with stickers and singing!) I'm sure that some chocolate will help.....

My Son's Birth Story

I woke up this morning and realized that today was my due date with the baby that was lost. At our first ob apt back in September (10 weeks along) we found out that the baby had stopped developing at 5 and a half weeks along. I miscarried two days later.

It's been a long, hard, wonderful road since then. There have been many wonderful things that have happened to us, being more than half way through a healthy pregnancy tops the list! Knowing that God has plans for this child is great. As He has plans for all His children - but knowing that had our previous pregnancy gone to term this specific little girl coming in August would not have been created. She's quite a fiery little kicking kiddo already!

I've been meaning to share my birth experience with my son for some time know so I'm finally getting around to it!! Mostly it's excerpts from my journal.

One Sunday in August 2004 I woke up without much of an appetite - it was my due date, when was my baby going to come?!?! I had thought I was in labor four days before on Thursday but as soon as we got to the birthing center the contractions totally stopped. (Now having been through it I know that these were NOT the real thing LOL!) They did continue irregularly until Sunday.

That Sunday morning I went on with my plans, mending a frame with seashells on it that an Aunt gave us for our wedding and watching the women's marathon on the Olympics (Athens). As the morning went on the contractions got closer and stronger so I went upstairs to relax, I took a bath and shower to see if the contractions would stick around through that.

Adam started timing the contractions at about 2:30pm and by 4pm they were about 4-5 minutes apart. We spoke to a nurse from the birthing center and she said to call her again in an hour, that first baby's usually take awhile and I'd be most comfortable progressing at home a bit more. But by 5pm my nervous and anxious hubby was wanting to get there since some contractions had been 3 minutes apart. Having one of those big green exercise balls at home really helped relax me during this part of the labor and my "coach" made me walk up and down the stairs in between contractions a few times because I had read somewhere to stay active during labor...easier reading about it than doing it!!!

The tub at the birthing center was very relaxing and one nurse met us there but another was just coming on shift soon took over. Adam called nurse Hazel and Dr. Julie the "Dream Team" - remember the Olympics were going on and he's a basketball fan. They were also amazing and much of what made our birth experience wonderful. It was Dr. Julie's son's birthday so she brought us one of his balloons - so sweet! But I still felt bad taking her away from party and cake.

I spent most of the time after 6:30pm in the birthing tub. I just felt WAY more comfy in there than anywhere else. Adam sat right next to the tub and would rub me and tell me to relax and that I was doing great! Only once did I get a little feisty, my hubby can be a bit chatty and he started talking with the nurse and Dr about something non birth related and I told them all to SHHHH. I'm not exactly sure of the words I used but I'm sure I wasn't too pleasant ;)!!!!

Our birth plan was to have a water birth and it did work out that we were able to do that. *Here's where time gets fuzzy even in my journal entry from a couple days later* Somewhere around 8pm nurse Hazel checked me and I was fully dilated. She said I could push since I was feeling like it with the contractions while she went to get Dr. Julie. When she left Adam was begging me not to push during the contractions which was really hard because I was really feeling like itI needed to. I guess he didn't want to be the only one there to deliver him!

Then at 8:19pm in one giant push out came our beautiful boy all at once. It sort of shocked me because I'd only ever seen or heard of the head coming out first and then the body but apparently that's not always the case!

Dr. Julie picked up our little son and placed him on my belly and after a little cry he reached over and grabbed on to Adam's finger which we thought was the cutest thing ever. Love at first sight! He weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces and was 21 inches long.

I loved the whole birthing center experience, nurse Hazel was there to help me with nursing pretty much right away after he was born and she even gave us yummy muffins to eat and juice! We went home a little after 2am about 6 hours after he was born and it was so nice to eat some food and settle into our own bed. With our wee one in between us!

Remember to pray for Kelli and Heather. These women are an inspiration to me and I love how the blogging community comes together to pray for one another!!!!

Healthy Cookies

I'm as big of a cookie monster as the next person but I also try to feed my family healthy, home made food, and organic when possible. I found this recipe in my latest La Leche League magazine and thought it was worth a try. Boy was I right, my son devoured them and I didn't feel bad letting him have two or three at a time since they are so healthy.

They came out very cake like and instead of nuts I used raisins because my kiddo is teething and picks nuts out of everything lately. They were good but if you wanted them to have that "cookie crunch" I would keep the nuts in there.

Added bonus is that they can be made vegan too!

Oatmeal and Banana Cookies

Ingredients: * 3 Cups flour (I used half whole wheat and half unbleached) * 1 tsp baking soda * 1 tsp salt * 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon * 1/2 tsp nutmeg * 1 cup margarine or butter (softened) * 3/4 to 1 cup maple syrup * 3 Tbsp soy lecithin mixed with 3 Tbsp water - OR 3 eggs * 2 1/2 ripe bananas * 3 cups oats * 1 cup chopped almonds or pecans

Directions

Mix the dry ingredients together:flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, mix margarine, maple syrup, eggs, and banana until blended. Add this mixture to the wet ingredients and mix. Add the oats and nuts and mix well. Bake by teaspoonful on a cookie sheet for 12 to 15 minutes in a 350 degree F oven.

Happy Easter!

Easter blessings to you and your family! Loves to all my family and friends scattered all over the globe!

Things I want to remember

"Tastes like good."

"Ha, ha real funny."

"You best, Mommy, you best!"

"that easier, try higher"

"serin" = raisin

Says, "Nank you, nank you, nank you" while taking some bows.

For about the last five or six mornings he wakes up in his crib and I hear through the monitor, "Mommy, go sit on my big boy potty chair!.......(slight pause)......oh, well."

I really wish I knew...

...who "Winkink" and "Woonkoonk" and "Wonkack" are. My son talks about them all the time. Sometimes they get to share snacks with my son and sometimes they have to sit in a time out- all his doing. The other day I even think one of them went to Heaven.

See while I was taking my blogging break our fish died and I explained (what I could) that the fish died and went to heaven to be with Jesus. (I'm assuming that if all dogs go to heaven then fish must too;).

Back to the other day, he was in the bathroom talking about Winkink and heaven and I went in and asked what he was up. He pointed down the toilet and said "Winkink down heaven with my fish." Something tells me I didn't do a very good job explaining things!!!!

A Beautiful Day

A couple of mornings ago my son lifted up my shirt a bit and looking at my belly said "growing bigger and bigger and bigger." I unable to keep a small smirk off my face replied with "yes, your baby sister is growing bigger in there."

We had a fun family day today, we packed a picnic and ate at a local wildlife conservation area by a river. Then we did some hiking and off-roading - using our SUV for what man intended it for I guess. It was a ton of fun. After awhile I was done with both boys begging for more and bigger hills - I said they'd have to make a day out of it when Mommy and baby were at home resting!

I'll leave you with some pictures of our day and my belly (20 weeks and 4 days along) if you want to compare it to 4 weeks ago here's the link.

Where's your baby sister?"

Watching for another fish to jump.

Kissing baby sister

A refreshingly beautiful day.

Another favorite quote:

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." - Proverbs 23:7

Quirky quote contest

Jewlsntexas is having a contest and the winner gets a new blog template. I'm participating because let's face it I can use all the help I can get - plus I love quotes! One of my favorites is

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein

Thinking bloggers

My parents are visiting for a couple days so I was just going to sneak a quick blogging moment. (They tired my son out enough for him to take a nap!) But I come to find out that sweet, sweet Linds my blogging friend of Rocking Chair Reflections has given me a thinking blogger award. Apparently that means I make her think - which makes me chuckle since I'm not so sure that I agree!! BUT I am totally blushing and tickled that she thinks so!

So the point of these awards is to "pay it forward" to five other bloggers. I'm finding it hard to narrow down just five since the reason that I read all of your blogs is because you do make me think and learn and challenge me!

Even though she was also on Linds list a blog I have to include is Owlhaven. Mary's was the first blog I ever read which got me hooked to this whole idea. She's inspiring and her writing about raising 8 kids, adoption, God, and the reality of life all makes me think and strive to be a better Mom, Wife and Child of God.

Stephanie from Adventures in Babywearing is next on my list - not that this is in any special order. Whether she's posting about the complex decision of vaccinations or to stay in pjs all day she's always making me think about the important things in life. She's a wonderful blogging persona here in blogland and I'm very blessed to read her.

I too agree with Linds that it's wonderful how generation gaps are non existent here in the blogging world same with physical boundaries like oceans and mountains too I guess!! Anyway, Barb writes at A Chelsea Morning and her writings are very wonderful to me. She makes me think about life. Everything from should I really be ironing my sheets ;) to keeping the focus on God. She's always letting us in on projects she's up too and I love the devotions she does on Sundays they are always insightful for me.

Another one that makes me think is Ashlee at New Mama's Nest. I love her writing style as well as parenting style. She's done some terrific writing on what being the Mommy of a preemie has been like for her and her family. Her son is a hoot and I love to follow the things they do. And an added bonus is that she takes amazing photos!

Last but not least I'm going to have to say that Linds you have to make it on my list as well. Her writings are absolutely amazing. Her faith in times of hardship and loss are truly inspirational and her love of life and her children - mostly grown now- are so profound and I feel truly blessed to have found her blog when I did!

Remember to pass these awards forward!!! And thanks for being my blogging buddies!!!!

We're having a .......

Here are some new ultrasound pictures of our precious little one. Linds there really didn't turn out to be a great picture for you to try to guess since the Dr typed on that one and I'm too tired to blur it out tonight! I also forgot to ask hubs to take a picture of me today at 20 weeks so I'll have to remember tomorrow!

It's a GIRL!!! It's a GIRL!!! It's a GIRL!!!

More potty talk

We made it on an outing today and not one accident. It was to church which he considers kind of like home anyway, I was able to find a step stool so that he could go standing up "like daddy does." It was the first day without an accident except one #2 accident (only his second of the week) yup I'm so happy for him! I may brave my Dr's appointment and the grocery store tomorrow!

**************************************************

My Mom sent me this in an email the other day and I thought it was fun.
Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated. I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep. I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in. I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her. I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one. I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays. I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

Paul Harvey riddle:What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?

I'll be back tomorrow with the news!!!

Oh my word...

...does time fly when you're having fun. I guess my last post was a lie - oops and sorry! I haven't even turned on the computer all week, we've been enjoying some nice spring weather and doing a ton around the house.

I guess the biggest news of the week is that my son is potty training!! We tried for a couple days about 4 weeks ago and neither one of us was ready. Then this past Monday right before his quiet time he asked to sit and read on the potty and we did for 40 minutes - yes indeed he is quite determined so I guess he just wanted to sit there until he succeeded. And he did! Lots of hugs, a call to Daddy and a chocolate chip later and we were on to something.

Today he only had 2 accidents BOTH within 30 minutes of each other AND while I was cooking dinner. Similar to the night before so I'll have to increase the frequency of my reminders in the evening time. Still in diapers during naps and outings since I haven't been brave enough to just go for it. I think I may invest in some training pants this week for while we are out! Any advice you'd like to give on this subject will be well received as I always feel like I need to be a sponge and learn more about parenting at each new stage!

On Tuesday I go in for my 20 week u/s!!!!!!!!! We'll be finding out if we're having a little brother or sister!!!! Other pregnancy news - I'm so hormonal right now that one of the comics in the paper today made me cry. Can I just say my poor hubby, I'm certain he thinks I'm nuts. I'll post another belly picture soon.

A couple of weeks ago my son was asking to go outside, I was on the phone with my sister so I really didn't pay that much attention to what he was saying (insert twinge of guilt here). It was a nice day so I sat out there with him and the next thing I know he's coming over to me holding the watering can saying "flowers need water." I find that he'd stuck some of my silk flowers into the garden - apparently spring couldn't come too soon around here! Happy Spring!!!

Getting back to blogging

I'm back...feeling SO much better and I've cleaned and pruned bushes and laundered (actually put away even) and cooked and exercised. I'm feeling productive enough to get back to visiting my blogging friends!

The winner of a homemade party favor (I think we'll make cookies tomorrow) is Monkey Giggles. Congrats and I hope you'll enjoy!

Some new blogs I've found and enjoy (among many) are Woman With Many Hats - Tracey's posts are many about attachment parenting and I'm finding them fun and educational! - and bleeding espresso - Sognatrice lives in Italy and shares many insights about the world and life (not to mention pictures) of a world away!

I'll be around to visit soon!

A little break

Thanks for all your wonderful comments...I seem to have been slapped in the face by a cold for one of my birthday presents and I'm grateful that I had a reminder of all I have to be thankful for!!!!

I'll be taking a little break from blogging until Monday - I might be around to visit you though :)!!!! See ya in a few!

Wordless Wednesday: Tulips are coming!!!!

Remember to Party!

32 Things to be Thankful For

Since I shared the news that it's my birthday I decided to share 32 things that I'm especially thankful for this year! In totally random order...

1. My loving husband
2. the wonderful connection we have
3. A wonderful and truly amazing son
4. A growing pregnant belly
5. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb" vs.13 and the rest of Psalm 139
6. Outstanding parents - the best
7. The best siblings and extended family
8. My Mom for (of many reasons)being an example of natural childbirth (30 something hour labor with me I want to say!)
9. A terrific Mother-in-law
10. 2 handsome nephews and a beautiful niece
11. Our health
12. Smiles
13. The best friends
14. That God always provides
15. 2 crazy dogs to teach me patience
16. Girl scout cookies ;)
17. A wonderful church family
18. Tulips piercing the earth
19. Eyes to read and learn
20. Ears to hear the best laugh ever
21. Spinach and lettuce coming up in the garden
22. That I get to stay home with my son- as he says "Daddy go work and Mommy stay home play!"
23. To be a sinner saved by God's grace
24. A son who sleeps through the night
25. The drive to become the best mom and wife I can be
26. My blogging friends :)
27. A beautiful home
28. Mexican food ;)
29. To be living in the US
30. Running water and a multitude of appliances (I can't imaging being without these luxuries especially while pregnant!)
31. All my family - I know I mentioned them before but they deserve 2 spots since I'm doubly grateful for them all!!!!!!
32. A joyous life!!!!!!! (Yes, we have our moments too but I love how wonderful it really is!)

Someone really needs to invent a lock for a box of girl scout cookies. One that say, spits out a serving and then won't let you have anymore for 24 hours. Otherwise it might be possible for one person to eat an entire box in two sittings or less!!!!!

In my house girl scout cookies = failed lesson in self control!!!! ;)

Remember to party!

Prego Belly Pics

The above picture was taken when I was 37 weeks along with my son. He was born on his due date so I still got three weeks bigger than this. Sorry that it's not the best picture, we have some others that are bare belly and actually show how HUGE I was but I'm not brave enough to post those!!! My son was 8 pounds 6 ounces and I'll be posting more about my birthing experience with him in the next few weeks! The sunflower was knocked over in a wind storm but I wanted a record of how big it was too!

This was taken today (Sunday 3/4/07) at 16 weeks 5 days along! I'm hoping to post them periodically so I can have a record and we all can see how big I get with this one!!!!

For more pregnant bellys or to link up yours visit Steph at Adventures in Babywearing.

P.S. Remember that there's a party going on!

Apple Fruit Leathers

Today we made apple fruit leathers from scratch. I've wanted to try them for awhile and they were both easier and harder than I anticipated.

I followed the recipe that's in my La Leche League cookbook, Whole Foods For The Whole Family. The ingredients are: 1- 1 1/2 pounds (or more) ripe fruit and 1 T to 1/4 C water, if needed (I didn't add any)
Optional ingredients: 1 T. to 1/2 C. honey, ground spices such as cinnamon, allspice, cloves or ginger, and flavorings such as vanilla, grated lemon rind or grated orange rind.

For softer fruits it said to peel (peaches, plums etc.) but for harder fruits (apples, pears) the recipe said to leave them unpeeled. I was semi skeptical about this so I peeled half of the apples - knowing that there are so many nutrients there but not wanting the flavor tainted! (Tasted fine BTW.) After coring and cutting into chunks I boiled them with about half an inch of water until fork tender. (With softer fruits you can skip the boiling step.)

Puree with skins in blender or food processor cool and force through a sieve. I don't have a sieve that I thought would work plus I just thought that it wasn't necessary as the puree was an applesauce consistency - like the instructions said.:) Add options to taste...I used cinnamon, honey, vanilla and allspice.

All is going well so far but here was where the hard part began.

Line one baking sheet or drying screen with heavy plastic wrap securing corners. Spread puree 1/8 inch thick on prepared surface. Dry in food dehydrator or outside in the sunshine (cover with cheesecloth to protect from insects) on warm days, bring inside at night. May dry in a gas oven with pilot light or electric oven heated occasionally to 120- 140 degrees; open door periodically to let out moisture. May also use the top of a wood stove or the rear window of a closed car parked in the sun.(seriously it says this) Dry for 1-2 days or until no wet or sticky spots remain.

I had read somewhere else to oil the baking sheet instead of using plastic wrap so I did one tray of each. Spreading the fruit very thin was a bit difficult with a 2 year old trying to help. Once Daddy occupied him it was somewhat easier! It was also easier to spread on the oiled sheet, the plastic wrap even though it was secured to the sides would slide on the bottom of the pan which made it a bit more frustrating. Plus I'm not the biggest fan of having soft plastic like that right next to my food in a warm place where it could potentially leach into the food.

All that being said and done when I went to put them into my electric oven I found out the lowest temp that mine has is 170 degrees. I thought it would be ok :)! Really it was ok but I think I should have just let it heat up and then turned the oven off, cracked the door ajar and the oven light would have provided enough heat. I left the oven on for almost an hour (cracking occasionally to let steam excape), then I turned the oven off - left it closed and we went to a friends for dinner. When we got home a couple hours later the pan that was only half way filled was done...actually overdone. Around the edges it became a fruit brittle, which tasted good but it wasn't what I was really going for. The pieces tasted great this morning on top of oatmeal and I'm sure they'll make a great topping for granola too.

The second tray still had large wet spots last night so I just took it out of the oven and covered it on the counter to continue in the morning. I heated the oven (slightly) put it in and left the door ajar while we went to church. When we got home it was done.

They taste good but I think next time I'll spread the mixture a bit thicker, when dry these are paper thin. All in all it was a really good learning experience and I plan to make some more with some frozen peaches and pumpkin (since I have both in the freezer still) to see how those turn out. (For pumpkin it says puree cooked pumpkin, add options and proceed as directed.)

For storage it says to roll and store in an airtight container in cool dry place, can refrigerate or freeze for long term storage. Oh, here we go...if fruit becomes brittle sprinkle on celery? or yogurt.

Really they weren't as time consuming as reading this wordy post!LOL!!!! Just have to get the knack of drying them! Since it's challenge week at Stop the Ride! I'll be submitting this for Stephanie's carnival be sure to head over there on Tuesday and see what all the other participants made from scratch!!!

Updates and DNA

For those of you who asked, my birthday is Wednesday, March 7th and an update on how being 16 weeks pregnant is...I'm feeling so much better - I still have a pretty strong beef aversion but I can eat chicken as long as I've cooked it, mostly I'm craving a lot of Mexican food (cheese enchiladas) and guacamole. The mornings are still a bit rough but usually after breakfast I'm feeling great for the rest of the day.

I've felt occasional movement and can't wait for more of it! The good thing is that all of us are getting used to eating less meat and more vegetarian type dishes which is of course so much healthier anyway. Last but not least at my appointment 9 days ago I had only gained 1 pound total - ignoring the fact that I'm a good 10 pounds heavier to start this pregnancy than I was with my son that's not so bad.

This is the last time I plan to talk about my weight, I don't even own a scale because I believe that they aren't really a good indicator of health (having been a dancer and knowing all the unhealthy ways in the world to loose a few pounds before a performance). If we are eating right and exercising then building lean muscle and losing fat might not register on the scale anyway which is just discouraging.

Wow, I've gotten off topic and I really don't care how much weight I do or don't gain during pregnancy the goal is a healthy baby and that means more poundage! :) Besides nursing will help take off the weight again anyway!!!! I can't wait to have another nursing kiddo! What a blessing this pregnancy is!!!

Thanks to the babywearing Stephanie (and others) for sharing this.

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Chocolate cake

In my party post I mentioned a recipe for chocolate cake. Before I get to that however let me just say that some of my favorite TV lately is the Food Network. I love 30 minute meals with Rachel Ray and I also have been getting some good ideas lately from Quick fix meals with Robin Miller.

Tonight for dinner I fixed these meatball parm subs but with beef instead of chicken. I've made them before and they are a snap to make and very tasty!

Now on to the good stuff, the first year Adam and I were dating (10 1/2 years ago) I made him a chocolate birthday cake from scratch that he says was the best ever. For 10 more birthdays I've been trying to make it again and finally this year I succeeded. (I didn't actually make chocolate EVERY year!) I saw Robin Miller make this one on one of her Quick Fix Meals shows and I thought I would try again this year. We found it very delicious and easy to make so it looks like a keeper!

Chocolate Cake

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups brown sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup boiling water
Confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
*Note:I didn't have buttermilk but substituted Milk with 1 tablespoon vinegar per cup milk and let sit for a bit.

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl and slowly whisk in wet ingredients. Pour into greased 9 by 12-inch baking pan and bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.

I felt that after 25 minutes it looked a bit runny still so I cooked it for about 12 more minutes and it turned out that the center was still wobbly then too but it did gel up nicely when it cooled a bit and those were the best pieces. Next time I think I'll pull it out at 30 minutes. Enjoy!!!

It's a party!!!!

Susan and Janice over at 5 minutes for mom are so much fun! They are hosting this wonderful blog party for everyone with fun prizes and everything! I'm totally digging a party where I can meet some new and wonderful bloggers and sit at home and sip some ginger tea!!

If you're new here I'm a stay at home Mom to a wonderful 2 and a half year old son who keeps me plenty busy and entertained and I'm 16 weeks pregnant with our second due August 14th! If you'd like to find out a bit more about me you can read 100 things about me and you can see what a semi-typical day around here is like.

What's a party without a cake??? Tomorrow I'll be sharing a super delicious chocolate cake recipe! I'm also turning 32 next Wednesday so there's lots of reasons to party around here!

I'm also offering a prize for everyone that leaves a comment here. You'll be put into a drawing for some sort of homemade treat - it could be something I canned or something I'll make special, not sure yet. Make sure to leave me a comment so I can come check out your place and so you'll be put in the drawing!