Cheesecake

I think cheesecake is very close to being the perfect food. I just absolutely love it. It's by far my favorite dessert, and I could easily, (and very happily ) eat it almost daily.

Matt and I were both getting kind of house-crazy after being here for almost 2 weeks after we brought Gracie home, and Thursday morning he woke up and said, "let's go out!" So, after everyone's nap times, we went to Babies 'R Us to return some stuff (a maternity shirt that I bought 3 days before I had Grace! ), and to buy a new carseat. We then went to The Cheesecake Factory, which I had a gift card for. So, we got a wonderful appetizer and entrees and then split their vanilla bean cheesecake. It was to.die.for good!

It was also just a very nice outing as a family of 4. Grant did great in the restaurant - one key to eating out with a toddler is to make sure they're hungry when you go, so they'll occupy themselves by eating! Grace stayed covered in her carseat the whole time, sleeping. It was just a nice afternoon.

And then, more cheesecake Friday! My father-in-law and step-mother-in-law came for the day, so after spending time with them Matt and I went out for coffee and dessert at another restaurant we had a gift card to. We both got our own desserts, I got more cheesecake! It was also very, very good! I'm now savoring the memory of both decadent slices as I have officially started on my "back-to-pre-pregnancy weight" journey. My carrot sticks and tomato soup don't have quite the same allure!

May 11, 2002

Happy Anniversary, My Sweet Husband!

It's hard to believe that 7 years ago today I married the love of my life. I can so remember waking up on the morning of May 11, 2002...I looked at the clock and thought "it's today!" I can remember how much fun it was to get our hair and make-up done, and how weird it felt that the day had actually arrived.

How little did I know then, however, that the next seven years would be so incredibly wonderful. I knew I loved Matt, but he has just amazed me over the past seven years with his patience, his kindness, and his deep devotion and commitment to myself and our family. I hope we get many, many more years together, my love.

At the rehearsal (look how young and thin I was!)



Leaving the church, being showered with confetti!



The cake, which I still think was beautiful! And I'm still amazed that one of my college girlfriends made it for us!





The surprise of a lifetime- a new car!

well, thanks!

Thanks for all the comments on my blog! I didn't mean to force y'all to comment, but it was nice to know that I'm not writing to myself.

Whew!

I have spent more time than I should have trying to get the comment form to work on this blog, but I finally succeeded! So, now y'all have to comment, because I spent so much time on it!

I haven't finalized the entire format, but I'm getting closer! I love this new blog template and all the colors - I wanted something new for spring and summer!

Pictures for Friday

Grace is growing!

So, we had our "newborn" visit with our pediatrician today. Since he doesn't deliver at Community North, he hadn't met Grace yet. So, it was just a general check-up and weight check.

Sunday night, the last time she was weighed in the NICU, Grace was 5 pounds, 6.8 ounces. This morning at the ped's, she was 5 pounds, 10.8 ounces!! So, basically 4 ounces in 4 days!! YAY Grace! Grow grow grow!

The ped. said that one of the primary concerns with preemies is weight gain, and he usually makes his preemie patients come back for weight checks. He then said with Miss Grace's great gain in the nicu, and then the 4 ounces in 4 days since we've been home, he wasn't concerned at all! yay! (of course, we can always go in for a free weight check if we get worried, but she seems to be growing well! And, just FYI, the nicu wanted the babies to gain at least 1/2 an ounce a day, so she's even surpassing their standards!)

And, since Grace is gaining so well, he said we can stop waking her at night to eat! THAT made me happy, as I forgot, somehow, how exhausting this waking every 2 hour business is! Grace slept for 5 1/2 hours during the night last night, and I woke up, panicking that she hadn't eaten, but apparently we can let her sleep when she wants to sleep at night!

The ped. also said that we might have to adjust her age for developmental milestones, although he said most preemies catch up fast. I told him that with a son that didn't walk until 19 1/2 months and now zooms around the house, I don't get too concerned about slow developmental milestones! ;-)

At least they're recycling...

I guess at least they're recycling!

Peanut Shell Sling

So, I tried out my new sling last night after grace ate. This is the "tummy-to-tummy" carry, and she really liked it. I'm sure I'll get better at getting her in and out and situated with a little more practice. I love having her close to me, and I love the pink pattern! (It's reversible, even! :D) look how cute her little head is poking out the top! :D I think it'll be great for going on walks with Grant, playing outside, etc.

Day 2 with 2 Kiddos

It's so absolutely wonderful to be at home, as a complete, happy family of 4! Grant LOVES Grace, and gets so excited about "Baby Grace". When he hears her over the monitor, he stops playing and says, "baby grace!!! baby grace!!!" And he wants to "hold it" all the time. :D

I'm tired, but so happy to be home. I've got to the monitor volume figured out - it needs to be high enough that I hear her when she needs me, but low enough that every single newborn squeak doesn't wake me up!

My Peanut Shell sling arrived today, and I'm so excited to try it. I think I'm really going to like it! It will be nice to go out on a walk with Grant and have Grace right there, but still have my hands free. I think I'm going to love it!

Off to play with Grant!

he jumped!

So, when Grant was released from his physical therapy several months ago, one of the few things he still wasn't quite caught up with was jumping. The PT said it's just a skill that comes with time, and there wasn't a whole lot you could do about it. So, we've just practiced jumping with him and make a big deal out of it when he does try to jump.

Well, he just jumped tonight and got both feet off the ground!! way to go, grant!

A neat recipe for my friends with kids...

Here's a fun activity for Easter (a friend sent this to me, and the explanations might not be totally the way I'd word things, but you'll get the picture ;-)).

To be made the evening before Easter.

You will need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible


1. Preheat oven to 300

2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

10. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Nutmeg Brown

So, I think every other female in Indianapolis must color her hair Natural Instincts #28, Nutmeg Brown! The past 3 times I've gone to get that shade, they've been out!! Every other shade of Natural Instincts is there, but my #28 row, all gone. Weird!

50 Odd Things

So, I obviously am putting of cleaning! ;-) I got this from a friend and filled it out for my blog.

1. Do you like blue cheese? absolutely! looooove blue cheese salad dressing, but the fat content usually makes me buy something else!

2. Have you ever smoked? Nope

3. Do you own a gun? I think Matt has a rifle from my dad somewhere in the house

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite? grape

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not really- only before early pregnancy appointments, before we find out if the pregnancy is healthy - thankfully, we're done with that part of our lives!

6. What do you think of hot dogs? I used to like them, but know I cannot handle them, at all! I'll maybe eat a brat, maybe...I think I'd rather eat a plain bun with relish and mustard!

7. Favorite Christmas movie? Hmm...I dunno if I have a specific Christmas fave

8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? probably a toss-up between coffee and diet coke!

9. Can you do pushups? *a* push-up,probably! When I'm not pregnant anymore, I'd like to try this program.

10. Favorite piece of jewelry? my wedding ring set - almost 7 years later and I still love them!

11. Favorite hobby? does shopping count? ;-) How about running and cooking?

12. Do you have A.D.D.? I wonder sometimes! lol

13. What is one trait you hate about yourself? I wish I needed less sleep! ;-)

14. Middle name? Ruth

16. Name 3 drinks you like: diet coke, limeade, grapefruit juice

17. Current worry? thankfully,not really "worried" about anything at the moment...my minor concern is finding curtains I like for the nursery!

19. One of your favorite places to be? right now, after seemingly being hospitalized for so long this pregnancy, at home, with my boys! :D Besides that, Matt and I love traveling together, anywhere. :)

20. How did you bring in the New Year? I can't even remember! I'm sure we were just at home.

21. Where would you like to be? right this second? fast-forwarded in time about 9 weeks when we have Baby Girl!

23. Do you own slippers? yes

24. What shirt are you wearing? a purdue sweatshirt, but it's about to get stripped off because I'm HOT

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I've never tried!

26. Can you whistle? yep

27. Favorite color? anything bright

29. What songs do you sing in the AM? we definitely don't sing in the AM around here...we're pretty slow risers. :)

30. Favorite girl's name? if we had distinct favorites, this Baby Girl would be named by now! :P

31. Favorite boy's name? Grant, of course! ;-) I also love Lincoln, Anderson, Harrison, and Lee.

32. What's in your pocket right now? no pockets on my maternity pants!

33. Last thing that made you laugh? Grant waking up saying "good nap"

34. What vehicle do you drive? a new Durango, which I am IN LOVE with. It's soooo much easier to get Grant in and out!

35. Worst injury you ever had? hmmm, injury? probably a sprained ankle my freshman year of high school. I can remember not telling anyone (after the initial 3-4 days of rest, etc), but it hurt for weeks afterward!

36. Do you love where you live? I do!

37. How many TV's do you have in your house? 2

39. Do you have any pets? I think we still own a dog named Lizzie ;-)

41. What is your favorite book? It'd be hard to name a favorite - I do love a lot of Christian fiction.

42. Do you collect anything? nope! collecting leads to clutter! ;-)

43. Favorite Movies? The American President, Father of the Bride I & II, Made of honor,

44. Favorite Singers? I like a variety - Michael Buble, Chris Tomlin are probably up there on the list. A lot of contemporary Christian music.

45. Favorite Websites? the Food Network, any running site :D

46. Number 1 current goal? surviving the end of this pregnancy at home, and starting to run again after Baby Girl is here!

48. Favorite month? Hmm...probably mid-October through mid-November, as it feels like fall, which is my favorite season

49. Do you have a bucket list? not written down

50. Do you remember your dreams? almost always

Re-visiting my teaching days

Wow! I found a group called "Lake Highlands High School Alum" on Facebook, and wow, it brought back memories!!!! I saw sooo many old students! And, a lot of them have already graduated or are graduating this year from college - wow!! I still have such fond memories of that building and my classroom, and my first 3 years of teaching there will always have a special place in my heart. Yes, there was stress, and yes, the job was all-consuming (my first year of teaching Matt was SHOCKED at the amount of work that went into it!), but I truly loved it. A portion of my heart will forever be in the classroom, and I am confident that some day, when the kiddos are older, there will be a perfect part-time job for me somewhere.

28 weeks!

I hit a *major* pregnancy milestone yesterday - the 3rd trimester!!! After this l-0-n-g pregnancy, I definitely celebrate each day!

So, here's a belly picture from 28 weeks, 1 day, taken in the hospital bathroom!

I'll those too, then, please!

A couple of evenings ago I was chatting with one of my night nurses (Heather, whom I really, really like but she only works weekends :(), and we were just commenting how nice this hospital is. She said that one of her patients - in severe pre-term labor - recently pressed the call button and said she had a question for the nurse. Heather went to check on her, concerned about the baby and the pre-term labor situation.

But, nope, nothing was wrong with the patient - she just asked for the "big white fluffy towels" for the shower! (instead of the thin, small, hand-sized bath towels the hospital has!) Yeah, this hospital is nice, but it's still a hospital! I don't think they take fluffy towel requests! ;-)

Grant Favorites

Sitting up here on the maternity floor is making me sentimental and nostalgic remembering Grant's birth, as well as making my heart dream about when Baby Girl will make her appearance.

So, here are some of my favorite pictures from Grant's Birth Day.










Look how small he looked in the sleeper and the carseat!



Here is under the bili blanket, trying to get jaundice gone. He was a little glow-worm! :)

Paint Samples

So, we've come to learn that there are a plethora of pink paint options! Here's what we're trying to decide between for Baby Girl's room:

Under the Warmer

Per the previous post, here's a couple of pictures of Grant as a newborn, all stretched out under the warmer. Look how cute he was!

Friday evening, Hospital Day 8

It's 11 o'clock at night and I sit here listening to Baby Girl's heart beating away on the monitor. It's so sweet to hear, and warms my heart. I was walking around the floor tonight and stopped and looked in on the nursery, where there were 4 babies all lined up. It was so sweet to see! Two babies were all stretched out under the warmer, which I love to see because it reminds me of Grant when he was little. My heart wonders about what Baby Girl will look like - will she look like Grant? Matt? Me? I think that Grant looked a lot like my baby pictures, but now as a toddler Grant looks so much like his daddy. So, I wonder if Baby Girl will look like Matt's baby pictures? Will she have as much hair as Grant had? I hope she has Matt's lips - Grant does, and they're just beautiful. I already look forward to meeting her, to holding her, to loving her in person.