The best sound an expecting mother can hear, is the strong beating of a heartbeat from a little doppler machine(?) held on her abdomen.
Oh, yes, I almost forgot, we are expecting! If you know any of our story, as far as having kids goes, you know that this is extremely fast for us. We have come to expect a year - year and a half wait to get that positive pregnancy test. This time though, God had different plans for us.
We were completely shocked. We knew it could happen, but neither of us expected it to happen so soon. This time it took about 3 months. Crazy. It was the best Christmas gift, to find out we were expecting our 4th child.
But back to the sound. I had my first OB appointment Tuesday. It is a longer appointment. Lots of questions. But at the very end, you get to hear that heartbeat. With each child, that sound has made it all the more real. I'm 12 weeks along, I've been feeling terrible, but other than that, there really isn't much to show that there is a little one coming in several months. No protruding belly, no felt kicks, and for the Dr I see, no ultrasound pictures to gaze at.
So I cherish that whoosh whoosh.
Oh and for the record. She said the heartrate was in the 160s. Both boys were consistently in the 130s, Katherine's was always higher than 140... What does that mean?? Well, scientifically, absolutely nothing.
I'm not quite sure what to do with this blog. I enjoy coming and writing every so often, but I don't have much to write about these days. I'm hoping to have more to say once we get to spring and gardening, maybe some crafting again. Maybe I'll share some of the things I've been doing with the kids....
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Strange January
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| One of the actual wintery January mornings. |
January was a very strange month around here.
It is supposed to be winter. It is supposed to be snowing with temperatures below 40. Yesterday the thermometer hit 59... A couple days before it snowed. A few days before that... it was up in the 50s. It's been back and forth all month.
I like all seasons. Especially the colder ones, so I'm really missing winter.
On top of that, maybe because of that (no clue), we've all been fighting sickness around here. Katherine has had a runny nose almost all month. She had a double ear infection at the beginning of the month, a fever somewhere in the middle, and is just now starting to completely come out of it. The boys both had fevers at the beginning of this week. I've had a touch of cold for a little over a week. Jonathan is the same. Although, he also had some wisdom teeth pulled last week, so he's been dealing with that too.
 |
| Goofballs |
What I haven't done is craft or try any new recipes. I'm hoping to do some of it very soon. I had a list a year ago of things I wanted to get done sewing wise. I think I might have done one of those projects. Hopefully this year!
Hoping for a snowy and healthy February.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Best Idea Ever
Well, ok, maybe not the best ever, but it has lowered some stress in my life, so, at the moment, it is right up there.
In the last days of December I wrote a list of all the meals we enjoy. Then I set up a meals calendar in my Google calendar, in which I organized the meals in a 3 week rotation. I also did the same for the kids' lunches, but put those on a 2 week rotation.
The result has been amazing. I had been just going day by day, and it was so frustrating. 5 o'clock would roll around and I would be at a complete loss for what to make for supper. Now there is no thought involved. And there is the added bonus that I can look at the approaching week of meals and do my grocery shopping accordingly, which is also a huge plus.
If you want to set up your own Meal Planning calendar, it is super easy. (I'm sure there are plenty of great tutorials and guides to setting up an even better system out there in blogland, this is just a real simple way to do it.)
I already use Google Calendar to keep track of all sorts of things; appointments, monthly bill due dates, reminder to take out the trash, etc. And the best part is that the main part of my calendar is shared with my husband, so I don't have to remind him about all those things (and vice versa) - it shows up right on our phones.
So, in order to save him from having to see all the meal stuff - and to make it a different color so it stood out - I created a new calendar within the main calendar. If you open up Google Calendar and go to the left hand side, there should be a drop down menu called My Calendar. Under that menu there should be the option to Create New Calendar. Here is a look at mine on the weekly view - also showing where the Create a New Calendar option is.
From there it is pretty self explanatory. For me, I went through and quick added all the meals, and then went back through and set them to repeat every 3 weeks. (Except for a few things that we really like, those I put on Thursday and set on repeat every 2 weeks. Well, actually I set two of the Thursday meals at 2 weeks and one at 3... so every once in a while there is an empty day, and a day with 2 options.)
I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to be thinking about what to make for supper each night. So wonderful. And, unless I change it, it will go on indefinitely. We could be having the same thing every third Tuesday 5 years from now for all I know.
In the last days of December I wrote a list of all the meals we enjoy. Then I set up a meals calendar in my Google calendar, in which I organized the meals in a 3 week rotation. I also did the same for the kids' lunches, but put those on a 2 week rotation.
The result has been amazing. I had been just going day by day, and it was so frustrating. 5 o'clock would roll around and I would be at a complete loss for what to make for supper. Now there is no thought involved. And there is the added bonus that I can look at the approaching week of meals and do my grocery shopping accordingly, which is also a huge plus.
If you want to set up your own Meal Planning calendar, it is super easy. (I'm sure there are plenty of great tutorials and guides to setting up an even better system out there in blogland, this is just a real simple way to do it.)
I already use Google Calendar to keep track of all sorts of things; appointments, monthly bill due dates, reminder to take out the trash, etc. And the best part is that the main part of my calendar is shared with my husband, so I don't have to remind him about all those things (and vice versa) - it shows up right on our phones.
So, in order to save him from having to see all the meal stuff - and to make it a different color so it stood out - I created a new calendar within the main calendar. If you open up Google Calendar and go to the left hand side, there should be a drop down menu called My Calendar. Under that menu there should be the option to Create New Calendar. Here is a look at mine on the weekly view - also showing where the Create a New Calendar option is.
From there it is pretty self explanatory. For me, I went through and quick added all the meals, and then went back through and set them to repeat every 3 weeks. (Except for a few things that we really like, those I put on Thursday and set on repeat every 2 weeks. Well, actually I set two of the Thursday meals at 2 weeks and one at 3... so every once in a while there is an empty day, and a day with 2 options.)
I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to be thinking about what to make for supper each night. So wonderful. And, unless I change it, it will go on indefinitely. We could be having the same thing every third Tuesday 5 years from now for all I know.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Giveaway Day - Fabric
Update: The giveaway is now closed.
Congratulations to commenter #145 - Kathy.
Thanks to everyone who entered to win. It was so much fun to have my inbox filled with blog comments. Hope you all have a great Christmas.
Welcome new comers!!
Twice a year there is a Giveaway Day hosted by Sew, Mama, Sew. Over the past 3 years I have won 2 different things, so I thought I would have my own giveaway. You can click on the picture above to find many more giveaways - go click now!! (Just a warning, it may consume your entire day...)
So today, up for grabs, are 4 pieces of fabric from my stash. (edit: I know the one on the top right looks orange-ish, but it is actually pinks. This is what I get for taking the pictures on a horribly dreary rainy day.)
The first is a yard from Midwest Modern by Amy Butler. The other 3 are fat quarters. I'm not sure what 2 of them are, but one is from Boutique by Chez Moi - that is the one with the pink background.
To win the fabric you only need to leave a comment. You can tell me about your favorite winter past time, but it's really not a requirement. I'll choose a winner at random at the close of the giveaway.
The giveaway will be open until 8pm EST on December 16th. I'll announce the winner shortly after that. Please make sure that there is a way for me to contact you if you win. And I will ship internationally.
Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy browsing all the other great giveaways this week!!
Oh - and my favorite winter past time - sitting with a hot beverage (tea, coffee, hot chocolate - I'm not picky) and reading a book with the snow falling outside, that's if I'm alone. With the kids - I love watching them stomp around in the snow and building all sorts of snow creatures with them.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Our Babies Look Alike
More baby comparisons.
Top is Katherine at around 4 months. Middle is Ohlen at around 3 months. Bottom is Noah at around 4 months. They definitely all share some similar features. And I love that the boys had more hair at 3/4 months than Katherine does.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Berry Cream Coffee Cake
There is a particular coffee cake that my mom would make every summer when we were on vacation. (Yes, our vacations involved cooking every meal ourselves) I made some this summer for breakfast during our family campout. (That was held right next door. It was so hard getting there... :)) I apologize for the lack of better pictures - and no final product picture. I must have gotten distracted by the camp out festivities. :)
Berry Cream Coffee Cake
3 oz Cream Cheese
1/4 c butter
2 C biscuit mix (I used a homemade mix - work just fine)
1/3 C Milk
1/2 C preserves (Strawberry and Raspberry are my favorite, but you could use any.)
1 C sifted Powdered Sugar
3 Tbs Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla
Cut Cream Cheese and Butter into Biscuit Mix until crumbly. Blend in the 1/3 C milk. Turn onto floured surface. Knead 8-10 strokes.
On wax paper, roll dough into a 12"x8" rectangle. Turn on to greased baking sheet, remove paper. Spread preserves down center of dough. Make 2 1/2" cuts in 1" intervals on long side. (see picture) Fold strips over filling. Bake at 425 F for 12 - 15 minutes. For glaze combine Powdered Sugar, 3 Tbsp Milk and Vanilla. Drizzle over top of hot pastry.
Berry Cream Coffee Cake
3 oz Cream Cheese
1/4 c butter
2 C biscuit mix (I used a homemade mix - work just fine)
1/3 C Milk
1/2 C preserves (Strawberry and Raspberry are my favorite, but you could use any.)
1 C sifted Powdered Sugar
3 Tbs Milk
1/2 tsp Vanilla
Cut Cream Cheese and Butter into Biscuit Mix until crumbly. Blend in the 1/3 C milk. Turn onto floured surface. Knead 8-10 strokes.
On wax paper, roll dough into a 12"x8" rectangle. Turn on to greased baking sheet, remove paper. Spread preserves down center of dough. Make 2 1/2" cuts in 1" intervals on long side. (see picture) Fold strips over filling. Bake at 425 F for 12 - 15 minutes. For glaze combine Powdered Sugar, 3 Tbsp Milk and Vanilla. Drizzle over top of hot pastry.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Late Night
Why am I still up at 12:15am?
Started this morning around 930. Went to the neighbor's house.(who happen to be my husband's aunt and uncle) We cut up, cooked, and strained 5 bushels of apples. (3 were for his aunt and cousins - 2 were for us)
We use Cortland apples. I really love the taste - we don't even add sugar to ours. Plus, at our local orchard, a bushel of "seconds" (the not so pretty apples) are only $11. So for $22 I got 38 quarts of applesauce. Well, $22 and a whole day of work. (And the cost of lids - so maybe an extra $5.) Still less than a dollar a quart, which I find to be pretty amazing. And it's supporting a great local business. All in all a day well spent.
I'm dead tired, and just set the final time for the last jars to be canned. So, if I'm lucky, I'll be in bed by 1... And up again around 7am. No sleeping in for this Mommy.
On a side note. If you can avoid watching episodes of shows on thewb.com, do so. I am trying to watch Fringe - and they have the first 10 episodes of season 1. I was trying to watch an episode and it would keep stopping and playing a minute of ads - and then it would try to start playing the next episode. So I would have to click on the other episode, so it would play a minute of ads - then I would click to where in the episode I was - another minute of ads... Arg!! This happened probably 4 times, at least. And the best part? Most of the time it was the same ad - back to back.... I really, really wish this series was streaming on Netflix or Hulu or Amazon....
Started this morning around 930. Went to the neighbor's house.(who happen to be my husband's aunt and uncle) We cut up, cooked, and strained 5 bushels of apples. (3 were for his aunt and cousins - 2 were for us)
We use Cortland apples. I really love the taste - we don't even add sugar to ours. Plus, at our local orchard, a bushel of "seconds" (the not so pretty apples) are only $11. So for $22 I got 38 quarts of applesauce. Well, $22 and a whole day of work. (And the cost of lids - so maybe an extra $5.) Still less than a dollar a quart, which I find to be pretty amazing. And it's supporting a great local business. All in all a day well spent.
I'm dead tired, and just set the final time for the last jars to be canned. So, if I'm lucky, I'll be in bed by 1... And up again around 7am. No sleeping in for this Mommy.
On a side note. If you can avoid watching episodes of shows on thewb.com, do so. I am trying to watch Fringe - and they have the first 10 episodes of season 1. I was trying to watch an episode and it would keep stopping and playing a minute of ads - and then it would try to start playing the next episode. So I would have to click on the other episode, so it would play a minute of ads - then I would click to where in the episode I was - another minute of ads... Arg!! This happened probably 4 times, at least. And the best part? Most of the time it was the same ad - back to back.... I really, really wish this series was streaming on Netflix or Hulu or Amazon....
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Second Honeymoon Dreaming
So every once in a while I think about the second honeymoon trip my husband and I are hoping to go on next year.
I say "hoping to" because, well, you never know what life will toss you. (I try not to make statements about things we are going to definitely do anymore, because I sometimes end up eating my words, because life is just crazy that way)
It is such a gargantuan task!
Our general idea for our trip is tropical beach bum vacation. Sounds great right? Our actual honeymoon was at a city close to home for only a couple nights. We got married in the middle of college and were pretty broke. We came home the Tuesday after we were married and started working pretty much right away at our crazy factory summer jobs. Next year will be our 10 year (10?? where has time gone??) anniversary and so we want to go on a nice vacation all by ourselves.
But it is not easy. Do you know how many tropical beach bum vacation options there are? And how many options within each option. Makes my head spin. Do we want to go to an all inclusive place, and not leave the place the entire time we are there. Do we want to rent a car to do some touring? Do we just want to go on a cruise instead? Do we want to just get a regular hotel? A resort? A private rental property? Do we want to go to Mexico, somewhere in the Caribbean, Hawaii? How much do we want to spend?
Really, we wanted to go to England. That would have been amazing. The more we thought about it, the more we realized that we would want to go for at least 2 weeks. And that is completely out of the budget for the trip next year. And we wouldn't want to leave the kids for that long. So that trip is a dream for another year. Maybe for the 20 year anniversary. :)
My thoughts right now are all inclusive with no rental car. I would love to go to Hawaii, but I think that is someplace I would definitely want to explore - and will probably be out of our budget, unless we got a pretty great deal.
Cruises intrigue me. I have heard really great things about them. However, I'm not sure how I would do confined with a large crowd. I think I do really well traveling in general - but I'm not great with huge crowds (think amusement park situations) Stresses me out for whatever reason. But cruises seem to be pretty economical, which will be a big part of the final decision.
In any event, I'm not even sure what time of year we are going to go. Probably spring or fall of next year. Who knows, maybe we will just say heck with it and head to Anna Maria Island again. Although, I really do want to go some place different. So maybe Sarasota. :) (It's not too far from Anna Maria.)
Any suggestions? Would love to hear about any and all experiences with cruises and all inclusives. Pros - cons.
Click on through to any of the links below the pictures to find some more wonderfully inviting beach pictures.
I say "hoping to" because, well, you never know what life will toss you. (I try not to make statements about things we are going to definitely do anymore, because I sometimes end up eating my words, because life is just crazy that way)
It is such a gargantuan task!
Our general idea for our trip is tropical beach bum vacation. Sounds great right? Our actual honeymoon was at a city close to home for only a couple nights. We got married in the middle of college and were pretty broke. We came home the Tuesday after we were married and started working pretty much right away at our crazy factory summer jobs. Next year will be our 10 year (10?? where has time gone??) anniversary and so we want to go on a nice vacation all by ourselves.
 |
| Found on flickr Maldives - definitely out of the price range - but so incredibly beautiful |
But it is not easy. Do you know how many tropical beach bum vacation options there are? And how many options within each option. Makes my head spin. Do we want to go to an all inclusive place, and not leave the place the entire time we are there. Do we want to rent a car to do some touring? Do we just want to go on a cruise instead? Do we want to just get a regular hotel? A resort? A private rental property? Do we want to go to Mexico, somewhere in the Caribbean, Hawaii? How much do we want to spend?
 |
| Found on Flickr Kauai Hawaiian Island - probably the island I would want most to visit there. Although, I would love to geek out at all the Lost filming locations on Oahu. |
Really, we wanted to go to England. That would have been amazing. The more we thought about it, the more we realized that we would want to go for at least 2 weeks. And that is completely out of the budget for the trip next year. And we wouldn't want to leave the kids for that long. So that trip is a dream for another year. Maybe for the 20 year anniversary. :)
 |
| Found on Flickr Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Some friends where here last year and loved it. |
My thoughts right now are all inclusive with no rental car. I would love to go to Hawaii, but I think that is someplace I would definitely want to explore - and will probably be out of our budget, unless we got a pretty great deal.
 |
| Found on Flickr St. Lucia |
Cruises intrigue me. I have heard really great things about them. However, I'm not sure how I would do confined with a large crowd. I think I do really well traveling in general - but I'm not great with huge crowds (think amusement park situations) Stresses me out for whatever reason. But cruises seem to be pretty economical, which will be a big part of the final decision.
 |
| Found on Flickr Punta Cana |
In any event, I'm not even sure what time of year we are going to go. Probably spring or fall of next year. Who knows, maybe we will just say heck with it and head to Anna Maria Island again. Although, I really do want to go some place different. So maybe Sarasota. :) (It's not too far from Anna Maria.)
 |
| Found on Flickr Anna Maria Island |
Any suggestions? Would love to hear about any and all experiences with cruises and all inclusives. Pros - cons.
Click on through to any of the links below the pictures to find some more wonderfully inviting beach pictures.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Butterfly
We brought a couple caterpillars inside this year. The first one to make its cocoon made it on the bottom of the jar. I wasn't sure it would make it. I used some super glue, cardboard, and a small clothespin that is technically for scrapbooking to hang the cocoon. One side of the cocoon was flattened. Happily, early last week the cocoon turned black. Ohlen was sure that meant it had died, but I assured him that it just meant that the butterfly would emerge soon. Luckily I was near the jar when the butterfly came out and was able to call the boys in. We waited a while before we attempted to "hold" it. We put it outside, and the next day it was still hanging around. Ohlen found it a few times and walked around with it on his finger. Such a great learning experience for them too. We have another cocoon that will hopefully be ready soon. I'm hoping to get some pictures as it is coming out.
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