Crochet

My latest crochet project:

I really love this baby boy blanket 

Baby Sprinkle

Heather and Becca, two of my best friends threw me a baby sprinkle at the end of April and it was so sweet. In case you aren't familiar with a baby sprinkle, it's basically a baby shower for someone who's already had a baby and is smaller than a typical baby shower.  I just invited some family and closest friends and I was blown away with the love "sprinkled" on me and my baby girl.

Becca.  She's very shy, can you tell?

Heather. She's expecting her baby boy at the end of June!

At first I felt really guilty about having a baby sprinkle since it's not my first baby.  It felt greedy to allow someone to throw a party for me and my baby since we really have all the basics already but my friends insisted and I'm so glad I accepted.  It was such a fun afternoon and we got so many wonderful things for our baby girl.

How sweet is this cake?!

My aunt Donna, Granny, and aunt Jackie

game time

My mama, she won the game!

Down south we love a good monogram!

I don't know why I make the WORST faces....these little pants are so cute!

I meant to get a good group picture but as usual, I forgot!!!!

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake

One of my favorite food blogs (and actually the first blog I ever started reading) is Smitten Kitchen.  I love love love all the recipes Deb posts and even if the main ingredient is something I don't like or haven't tried I ALWAYS want to make everything she posts!  Her pictures are mouthwatering and I love the way she writes about food, it gets me every time!

I am a lover of ice cream, although it doesn't always love me (gives me an upset stomach) so when she posted the recipe for a Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake I went straight to the store for some ice cream and marshmallows to whip this up during Patrick's nap time!  It did not disappoint and I cannot wait to make it again, especially since it appeals to every summer pregnant gal's dreams!

Do yourself and your friends/family a favor and make these...RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Pregnancy Update

Well I've not been too good at updating on my pregnancy but I have been taking pictures almost weekly so at least I can look back and see how much I've grown.  I'm currently 34 weeks and feeling pretty good other than being tired a lot.  I'm sleeping much better than I was at this point with Patrick so I'm very grateful for that.  There have been a few nights here and there that it's been hard to fall asleep but that's usually been when I drink a lot of water right before bed and have to keep getting up to potty.  I don't know what it is (I had the same issue with Patrick) but at night, especially as soon as I lay down in bed, I get so thirsty...like I haven't drank anything all day kind of thirsty.  

Photo Progress:

32 weeks with Patrick and 32 weeks with Madeline

I've been going to the chiropractor almost every week and that's helping a lot to keep my hips in check and my back feeling good.  So far I'm not really having any specific food cravings other than just wanting to eat ALL DAY LONG...any and every thing! I'm doing much better with drinking water recently, I've doubled my water intake during the day so I think that's helped me stay hydrated and feeling good as well.  

I had a check up on Tuesday and Madeline's heartbeat was 153 which was good and everything seems to be moving right along.  I go back in 2 weeks and I'll have the group B Strep test performed, then it's on to weekly check ups until she arrives! It's hard to believe in about 6 weeks our sweet girl will be here but I am ready.

I had been having some anxiety about "juggling" two children and how Patrick would adjust to not being the soul winner of my attention but the last week I've really chilled out and I'm just excited for her to be here and our family to adjust to a new normal.  I know it will be difficult for awhile but we'll figure it out and I think Patrick is really going to like helping me with the baby.  

Two of my best friends gave me a baby sprinkle so I'll have to get the pictures uploaded so I can share those soon. It was so sweet and we have been so blessed with wonderful friends and family who bought sweet gifts for our girl.  

A Life I Never Expected

We had some beautiful weather at the beginning of last week, so my little family spent a lot of afternoons and early evenings, outside in our backyard.  I believe it was Tuesday, Stephen was home from work and we had just finished supper and decided to head out back so Patrick could play.  I was sitting in the hammock, enjoying the pokes and jabs from baby girl.  Greta was prancing through the yard like a deer.  Stephen was hitting birdie balls, and Patrick was pretending to drive to Granny's in his little toy truck.  It hit me ... I am the luckiest, most blessed, richest woman in the world! It was complete perfection and tears came to my eyes as I just sat there, basking in the beautiful life God has given me.

Later that evening, I was journaling about the evening and how thankful I was.  Then I started remembering my life prior to kids, prior to marriage....I had always planned on being some sort of career woman, I would maybe marry (once my career was set) but not have children.  Or, if I did have children, they would be adopted (and not for the right reasons...for selfish ones that I won't go into now).  I started remembering the pain, anxiety, and disappointment of my college years as I realized I wasn't going to graduate and have a career.  I had NO IDEA what I wanted to do with my life and I was really upset about it.  I had planned on having some kind of career, preferably one that made lots of money and allowed me to travel the world and have expensive things. I giggle at myself when I think back on these memories now.  How immature and naive...

I'm a wife and stay at home mom now and I LOVE it!  It was not the life I had planned for myself when I was younger nor was it a life I ever thought I would have and enjoy.  When I graduated college with a degree but no career options I was a little sad but had come to terms with the fact that my priorities had changed.  I wanted to get married and maybe even have children some day.  And now I thank God that I had no career because it would have been hard to give that up to stay home with children.  The funny thing is, I spent so much time in college stressing over not knowing what to do with my life and being so upset that I wouldn't have a career.  Now I thank God for that and the life He had planned for me.  It's so much richer than I could have ever dreamed! And being a wife and stay at home mommy has made me feel more useful and happy than any career I thought I wanted.

A life I never expected has become my perfect life, the one I was meant to have and now embrace and am so thankful for! Don't get me wrong, some days are hard and frustrating but the "career" I have now is just what I wanted (I didn't know it before) and more importantly, it's what I needed. Even on the rough days, I thank God for giving me what I needed and what He had planned and not what I had asked for.

Update

Well, I'm not exactly sure what happened that kept me from blogging for almost 6 months.....oh wait...yes I do.  We are expecting baby #2 in July!!!  So, this post is mainly just a pregnancy update for my own records.

Much like my first pregnancy, the first 18 weeks were ROUGH! In fact, I was even more sick this time around and since I have a toddler to care for, I was even more exhausted.  Luckily, my mom was a HUGE help and came over and watched Patrick for me a lot so I could rest.  I have also had 3 colds, which is unusual for me.  I usually get one cold or sinus infection a year.  Since I was pregnant and not able to take a lot of medication and unwilling to take some that is considered safe I was miserable and it took much longer to get over a little cold than it normally would.  Luckily, winter is over and hopefully all the sickness with it.  My "morning sickness" (which for me is all day sickness) has left and I'm feeling good! This is the part of pregnancy I really enjoy...my belly is growing and although I'm still exhausted most days, I feel good and I'm able to do my normal activities (care for Patrick, laundry, go to the grocery, etc).  Stephen was also a HUGE help and really stepped up to taking care of Patrick during the evenings and weekends which I know wasn't easy since his job is tiring and he also had to entertain and exercise Greta.  I am one blessed lady, that's for sure!

I wish I had been better at documenting this pregnancy like I did with Patrick in my journal but I was just too sick and tired.  Also, said journal is missing currently and I can't believe how much I have already forgotten as far as the details are concerned.  But at least I have this post for an overview. Most days I could hardly make it until Stephen got home from work at 5:30 or 6:00 PM before waving my white flag and retiring to the bed.  I've not taken weekly pictures this time around either, but I have taken some so I will share those below.

I'm currently 25 weeks (due July 15th) and although I feel much bigger than the last time, or at least I started showing much earlier I haven't actually gained any weight.  I was so sick from weeks 5-18 that I lost 12 pounds and I've gained 10 of it back. So, I'm not sure if you would count that as gaining 10 pounds or not? Also, when I lost those 10 pounds I was back down to my pre-pregnancy weight (from having Patrick)...sad but true.  I just never could get the last 10 pounds off and to stay off!  I've also been trying to go regularly to my chiropractor in hopes of avoiding the hip issues I had last time.  So far it's helping and my hips haven't been hurting as much.

Baby #2 is a girl and we are so excited! I was honestly a little terrified to have a girl (my mind keeps flashing to the future teenage years) but I've just been focusing on all the fun things: ribbons, bows, PINK, ruffles, tea parties, etc.  I'll just deal with the attitude and melt downs as they come, and hope that it doesn't come or at least not for years! HAHA.

I'm going to try to do better about updating through the rest of my pregnancy and after baby girl is here, but no promises.  In case you want to check out any of my old post from my previous blog, here is the link Because Forgetting is Easy.

Luke 14:12 & Dreams

Living in the south, hospitality is just part of growing up...at least it was for me.  It seemed like almost every weekend we had people over for dinner or coffee and dessert, and there are so many treasured memories I have from these times.  I'm definitely not the most hospitable person but I do try and my goal is that anyone who comes into our home would feel at peace and know they are welcome; part of the family.

I have a dream, it's a big one, a VERY scary one.  Do you have these kind of dreams? The kind you dare not tell another soul because then it feels "real"?  Maybe you're a blogger and you've written a post about your dream but it sits in your queue, unpublished, because you're afraid.  What if people think your dream is silly or completely unrealistic and not possible?  That somehow, if you say it out loud or put it online it becomes more real and you're then responsible for fulfilling it? I've been too afraid to even write this post for fear.

I KNOW that I alone cannot accomplish my dream, it's a God sized dream.  It would take divine intervention for many reasons: resources, my lack of experience and spiritual gifts.  But that's what God does right? He does the impossible!  For a few months now I've had this tugging on my heart: how can I help people? What gifts has God provided me with that would enable me to bless those in need?  Then it hit me...feed them! This isn't a completely novel idea: my church has a ministry called serve the city and they take meals once a week to a few different neighborhoods, there is a man downtown that feeds the homeless right out of his truck. In fact, just a few weeks ago our pastor gave a sermon on the very topic of my dream and it was like a punch in the gut.

I've mentioned it before, I love to cook and bake.  I'm not a professional but I think I can put a decent meal together and I truly LOVE feeding people.  Nothing makes my heart more full than to have people around our kitchen table, bellies full, telling me they enjoyed my food.  I don't mean that in a "I love praise" kind of way.  Actually, I don't really know how to explain it...but I just get a lot of joy from feeding people.

I wish we lived in a world that did not consist of those who were hungry or in need.  Instead, everyone had food, shelter, family, etc.  Unfortunately, this is not reality.  Even in my small community I am sure there are people (we probably see them every day) who are going hungry and would love a nice warm meal and to be welcomed into someone's home.

My dream:

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.                    Luke 14:12 NIV

Cook a meal (once a week) in my home and invite whomever is hungry or in need of a meal and fellowship.

Luke 14:12 is exactly what my dream is!!!  How would I start doing this? I have NO idea..that's where God would need to show up because my gift is cooking and showing hospitality, not in organizing people or projects or even funding this venture.  If more than a few people came, I would be in trouble.  However, I truly believe that God provides.  When you're doing His will, His way, all you must do is say, "Yes, Lord." He will take care of the rest...

Chili & Chocolate Silk Pie

Stephen and I had some friends over for supper last night.  Since it's fall and I adore comfort food I made chili, cornbread and a chocolate silk pie.  Unfortunately, the weather played a trick on me and it was in the upper 70's ... ah well.  I thought I would share a few pictures and the recipes I used:

Mom's Chili:
1 lg. can Brook's Chili Beans (mild)
1 lg. can Tomato Juice
1 package McCormick's Chili Mix(mild)
1 1/2-2 lbs ground beef, browned

Put all ingredients in the crock pot for 5-6 hours on low, serve with crackers, cheese and spaghetti noddles if desired.

Perhaps the best part of this meal is that it makes plenty so you'll have left overs :)


Smitten Kitchen is the first food blog I ever read and it's still my favorite blog today.  Deb is the inspiration for a lot of my cooking and why I started a food blog a few years back.  I quit doing my food blog (another story for another day) but thought from time to time I would share some recipes here. Anyway, the chocolate silk pie I made is from Deb's cookbook and it's amazing! I think I've already made this pie 4 times and it's always a hit.  My pie crust didn't turn out as ascetically pleasing as normal but it didn't affect the taste so who cares, right?

I didn't make the pie crust that goes with the chocolate silk pie because I didn't have the ingredients so I instead used the "All butter, really flaky pie dough" recipe:

"All butter, really flaky pie dough"

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
16 tbsp. butter, very cold
1/2 cup ice-cold water

By hand, in a large widish bowl, stir together your flour, sugar, and salt.  Cut the butter into a medium-sized dice and scatter the pieces over the flour.  Using your pastry blender or fingertips, work the butter into the flour mixture until the largest pieces of butter are the size of tiny peas.

If the butter has warmed up a bit, place the bowl in the freezer for 5 minutes to quickly cool it down again.  Drizzle the water over the flour-butter mixture and use a flexible spatula to gently stir it together until a craggy, uneven mass forms.  Knead the dough and any loose bits together, working quickly so as to warm it as little as possible.  If your bowl is wide enough, you might be able to get your hands in and work the dough together there; otherwise, dump all the flour bits on the counter and do so there.

Wrap the dough up tightly in a large piece of plastic wrap. Chill in the fridge at least 1 hour for a halved dough and 2 hours for a full one before rolling it out. *This recipe makes 2 pie crusts, I usually just freeze my second one for later use*

When you're ready to make your pie, dust your counter generously with flour, place your piece of dough on it, sprinkle the top with additional flour, and begin to roll it out into a large round.  I like to keep the pie dough moving it all times, rolling it twice, life it, and rotating it a quarter turn, repeating until its' the desired size and shape.  Keep a bench scraper or long thin spatula handy and if the dough ever stick to the counter, shimmy the spatula underneath and lift the dough enough that you can dust the counter with more flour.  If the pie dough becomes soft, it will be harder to roll, more likely to sick and to break up those flake-inducing bits of butter-don't even try to fight it.  Just slide the dough onto the back of a baking sheet and into the freezer for a few minutes until it firms up again.

Place the pie dough into your pie pan, poke holes in the bottom of the dough to allow air flow so it doesn't "puff up" while baking.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, allow crust to cool completely before adding the chocolate filling!! This is VERY important!!

Chocolate Silk Pie

12 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate (I use a 60% cocoa bar), melted and cooled
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Garnish:

1 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp. sugar

In a large stand mixer, whip butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.  While mixer in running, drizzle in melted chocolate.  Add eggs one at a time, beating mixture at medium speed for 5 minutes after each addition, and scraping down the bowl.  Add vanilla, and blend well.  Spread chocolate filling in prepared crust, and smooth the top. Set pie in the fridge until fully chilled, at least 6 hours.

Just before serving, beat cream with sugar until it just holds soft peaks.  Spoon onto pie and serve!

You can see the silky goodness!

*Pie crust recipe and Chocolate Silk filling recipe are from the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

How Far I Haven't Come

On my journey of purging and trying to live more intentionally I knew there was still much work to be done. So far, none of the purging had "hurt" and although the goal wasn't to deprive myself or inflect emotional pain on myself, I knew that it had been too easy.  About two weeks ago, I got a nice smack of reality and realized just how far I hadn't come....

An acquaintance of mine is going through a BIG life change and in doing so, she is basically starting over and in need of almost anything for herself and her two children.  When I first read her request I was mad at myself that just the week before I had loaded up my car, TWICE, and hauled all of my purge items to our church.  If only I had known a week before I could have given her soooo much! Then God whispered, "You still have plenty to give."  I went through my house in a panic, looking for any "extra" things I had to donate and all I could find were items I used, loved, "needed".  I quickly garbed some things before I could talk myself out of it and told her what I had to bring.

There were two specific items that gave me a hard time, and I am VERY ashamed to admit: washcloths and my dresser.  I know you're judging me, and you SHOULD...how ridiculous...I didn't want to give up 4 washcloths and my dresser (that sits in our extra bedroom holding stuff).  My heart is still black and I am very selfish, but I'm working on it.

The washcloths were new, we received them for a wedding gift.  They were an expensive brand and white; which is why we never used them.  I was too fearful of ruining them or staining them so they lived, folded up nicely on the first shelf in our linen closest.  If I'm too afraid to use them, why keep them? I feel so awful but my first thought was to give away some of the good washcloths we had but used and keep the good ones for myself and start using them.  I quickly realized how terrible and nasty that was so I quickly put them in the stack of things to give away.

The dresser.  My dresser.  It wasn't particularly anything special, but it was the one and only piece of furniture I had EVER been able to pick out for myself, prior to getting married.  I always had a nice bed and dressers, but they were hand-me-downs.  In high school, my mom took me to a local furniture store and I found "my dresser". And I truly loved it! It currently lived in our extra bedroom, holding my yarn and crocheting projects and some seasonal decorating items.  Again, I quickly offered it up before I could think about it too much and realize what an unhealthy, nasty, attachment I had to a piece of wood that we didn't actually USE or VALUE anymore.

The point? I'm still a work in progress.  I don't know if I will ever truly have the right kind of relationship with my things but I am working toward it.  I want a giving heart and I obviously have LOTS of room for growth.  I can tell you this, two weeks later, other than the two above items mentioned, I don't even remember what else I gave her.  I also don't miss the washcloths that sat in our linen closet for five years and because I needed to empty out the dresser, I got rid of more baggage.

Goat Daze

My brother got his fiance goats for her birthday: Rosie and Victor.  They're the really cute small kind that don't get big (note my lack of goat species knowledge).  I took Patrick down to visit the goats today and he had so much fun feeding them and trying to pet them.

Rosie sneezed and Patrick thought it was hilarious.  He kept giggling and trying to imitate the goat sneezing, it was pretty precious.

Unfortunately, he doesn't understand what "be still and let them come to you" means or "don't be load, you'll scare them away".  Almost every time he tried to get close enough to pet them he would jump or scream and they would scamper away.

When it was time to leave, he must have told them, "Bye oat." (bye goat) at least twenty times.

Personality Change

I've always wanted to be one of those "cool" people that go with the flow and just live life in the moment.  Never make plans or get caught up in schedules.  Instead, just let each day unfold and see what blessings it brings.  Unfortunately, I was born a total control freak, who can rarely relax long enough to truly let loose and just let life happen.  I read several blogs and I crave what seems like the perfect life (I know they don't truly have the perfect life). It just seems like so many of the blogs I love are written by moms who are able to just "let life happen".

They aren't too worried about their kids being soaked from jumping in rain puddles, they do cool crafts like painting INDOORS and take awesome photos of their children with finger paint all over their bodies and in their hair.

So I'm making more of an effort to just relax, let life happen and let my toddler enjoy playing in the dirt.  Heck, if I totally lose my mind, maybe I'll join in too?!

I've started by letting Patrick make a mess at meal time.  And trust me, he's really embracing it :-)

Crocheting Projects

A friend of mine just adopted a sweet baby girl, so I made her a blanket.  Unfortunately I just snapped a few pictures with my phone in horrible lighting, but that's better than nothing.  Or is it?

30 Day Minimalist Game

My dear friend, Heather (today is her 30th BIRTHDAY!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRL) and I have been doing this minimalist game.  We tweaked the "rules" a bit to fit our lifestyles but it has been so much FUN and such a relief.

The basic gist of the "game" is to get rid of stuff...a lot of it, 465 items.  On day one you get rid of 1 item, day 2, 2 items... You get the idea. Well I knew once we got into the 10's 15's, etc. I wouldn't have time to find those items and actually get rid of them that same day.  I have a toddler that requires all of my attention until nap time and I also didn't want to be making trips to our church to donate items every day b/c that doesn't equate to minimal driving and saving money on gas, etc.

So, instead I just started going through my house purging AGAIN...round 3 people!!! I didn't count the items that I threw away (40 pair of socks, old tee shirts, etc.).  So far, over the course of about 5 days I am up to 452 items.  I loaded up my car this morning and took a full load to my church (we have an awesome ministry that is basically like a Goodwill store but our church operates it).  Here is a photo I took before leaving:

I come from a family of HOARDERS!!!! I have always known this and never wanted to be a hoarder and took the steps I felt were necessary to ensure I wasn't one.  Well, news flash: I'M A HOARDER!!! I just hoard nice/useful things and not junk like some people I'm related to.  See the picture below..

That's my spice collection.  I had just purged it about  a month or two ago and got rid of probably 10-12 spices that I had multiples of or were old.  Yesterday, I got rid of 10 more spices!!! Ya'll, I'm sick, help me!

What has this purge taught me? Well, I already knew I had too much stuff.  What I didn't realize is how unattached I truly am to my things.  I thought it would be really hard for me to get rid of 465 items, especially since I've taken 2 full carloads of stuff to be donated in the last month!  Guess what, it hasn't been hard AT ALL!! I realize I still have some more items to get rid of, but for the most part it's been super easy and the more I'm getting rid of, the more I want to get rid of.

I have decreased by clothing wardrobe by about 65-70%.  I got rid of over half my kitchen utensils...I seriously donated a whole kitchen's worth of serving ware, cooking pots, baking dishes, etc.  If someone was just getting started and needing EVERYTHING for a kitchen to cook a meal, I probably gave it away, times 2! And ya know what? I STILL HAVE EXCESS!!!!!!!!

I gave away 12 pillow cases!!! WTH (what the heck). And we still have 8, including the one's on our pillows.  The more I've been getting rid of, the more I realize how wrong it's been of me to keep all these things, not using them, when someone else may actually NEED or ENJOY them!

Recent Projects

I love to crochet in my spare time (nap time).  Right before I found out I was pregnant with Patrick my mom and I had started crocheting again.  Once I found out we were expecting, I was crocheting baby hats and blankets like it was my job!  They weren't the best quality or anything but it was a fun hobby and really got me into "nesting mode".

Since then, a lot of my friends have been having babies and I have enjoyed honing my skills and making more blankets and some hats.  I've been really bad about taking pictures of each project...my mom tried to get me into doing this so I would have a record of all the ones I've made.  For whatever reason the time was never found and I ended up giving away most of the blankets, hats, and scarves without ever taking any photos.

I decided this might be a good space for me to record and keep track of my projects.  This week I finished a blanket for a guy I used to work with whose wife is expecting a little girl in a few months.

Large V Stitch

 I also started and finished a scarf for my good friend, Heather's daughter.

Bobble Stitch

The Home I Want

Photo Credit

I want a home that is filled with love and laughter.

Photo Credit

I want baked goods around for my family and guests.

Photo Credit

I want people who visit to feel at ease and able to relax and enjoy themselves. Ok, maybe not like the dude above...

I'm pretty nostalgic and as I get older, it just gets more intense.  Recently I've been thinking more about the environment I want for my family and I realize that it's really the simple and easy things that come to mind.  I want to have memories of baking and making a mess with my children, painting outside under our car port, building forts in our living room, reading stories in bed to one another.

I want my children to look back and smile at all the fun we had together.  I want to look back and think of how tired I was as a mom because of all the things we did together.