simple life love

10 months!

2011-04-23T13:01:00.004-07:00

Koala baby is starting to become a little boy, and I am so happy to see how he is growing. He has such a genuinely bright and happy personality.

I got a bunch of plastic eggs for him to play with and he loves it! Look how excited he is in this picture:

He loves to dance to music, bouncing up and down and shaking his leg elvis style. It's adorable. He also loves dogs, peek-a-boo, slides, nesting toys and being tickled.

I've started to comb his "hair" in the mornings with a nice little part. My grandma told me I was dreaming when I was combing it one morning in front of her! I am sure it is something only a mother could see in her child but I think it's handsome and darling. Plus I love that my baby is still a baby with his bald head.

Koala got to spend quality time with both of his great grandmas on my side this month. His Grammy, who just passed away, and his Great Grandma in Vermont. He brought big smiles to both of their faces and we loved every minute we got to spend with them this month. Definitely the highlight of the last little while. It is very special and beautiful to see the love and connection that the oldest generation has for the youngest.

Koala and I took our first airplane trip together this month to Vermont and he was awesome, quite the charmer. On the way back between taxiing and everything, we were on that sweaty plane for 6 1/2 hours, sitting next to businessmen that didn't even acknowledge us the entire time and Koala was a little champ. He tried all of his best tricks to get the man sitting next to us to say hello to him- big toothy smiles, baby laughter, hide and seek, it didn't happen. Then toward the end of our flight Koala succeeded in making friends with a kind woman sitting behind us. He was so proud and excited.

(*also, why airlines don't make it a little easier for everyone when children are on planes is another topic all together- that flight would have been 100x easier if we had been sitting next to another family or somebody who was ok sitting next to a baby, but I digress)

Koala is a pretty social little guy and loves to see other children. He has one little friend near his age that we get together with. It is really fun to see him make friends with people.

Koala is in to everything now. He loves stairs and the other day we were in the kitchen and turned around and he was laying on top of the open dishwasher drawer!

He is full on crawling with his arms and legs now! I thought he might always army crawl but then one day he whipped out some sophisticated crawling moves. He has become very mobile!

His biggest and most exciting trick by far though is waving. Koala has just taken off in the waving department. He waves all day long, like if for example we are playing and Koala decides he wants to go to another room he turns around and waves at me, then crawls away. He waves at people and especially children when we enter the grocery store or go to a park or anywhere in public. He waves at the checkers when we leave the grocery store. He waves when we say phrases like "well, we better get going," or "It was good to see you." Seriously this kid picks up on goodbye cues and any wave appropriate opportunity!

As a side note, a week or so before Koala took off waving, I being a silly mom, had just done this google search: "My 9 1/2 month old doesn't wave" or something like that. Well good grief. There is definitely a fine balance between picking up on important cues in our children and also realizing children have their own time lines.

Koala also loves to point and tell us all about whatever he is pointing at. It's awesome.

His words so far: mama! dada! and da (dog).
We love you little buddy!

9 months!

2011-04-23T07:53:00.003-07:00

Well my oh my. Becoming a mommy has certainly made me less on top of blogging.

At 9 months Koala has two teeth! He loves to "play" with Legos, loves to be pushed on his little car or in laundry baskets, loves food- real people food, not mushed! Loves touch and feel storybooks, and he loves his mama.

Koala went through some serious separation anxiety there for a little while and would cry even when I would set him down for 2 minutes so I could use the bathroom, with the door open and him sitting right there with me in sight. Ahhhh, it was crazy but a really cute and special time. I feel really blessed to be needed by this little boy. It's the most amazing experience of my life.

Of course lil' Koala loves his daddy crazy too. Daddy built a computer this month and Koala was so excited about it, playing with the keyboard and whatever parts he could get at!

At 9 months, pulling himself up was by far his favorite activity to do. He'd army crawl over to us and reach for our hands, and we would hold them steady so he could pull himself up. He wanted to do this probably 50 times a day!

I think it's adorable how he pulls himself up to his table and goes on his tippy toes when he wants to reach something!

Happy 9 Months little Koala!

2011-02-22T00:18:00.004-07:00

This post is getting up a bit late. The pictures were taken before Valentines Day! I am having so much fun with little Koala that other things are taking a backseat.

8 months old and Koala is so bright and handsome. He really is a good, good baby.

My favorite time of the entire day with Koala is the mornings. We wake up snuggle, tickle, read. Then later when I am getting ready Koala usually likes to play with legos or mess around on the guitar. I love it. Here he is serenading:

Koala still gives wonderful baby kisses. Oftentimes when we're just hanging out together he reaches for my face an plants a big one. It's the best.

This month little Koala has perfected the upper-body army crawl. It actually looks like quite a workout! He also loves standing up and hanging on to things.

and also...

He got his first tooth! It's pretty darn cute. We got him a toothbrush and he loves brushing his teeth. I love saying to him, "brush your tooth!" such a short time where that will apply!

You know how some people are just really great laughers? Like their laugh is contagious, not at all obnoxious and it is almost impossible to not smile and laugh back with them. Well, Koala is appearing to have such a laugh. When he gets going, man, those belly chuckles are just hilarious!

He loves to roll a ball back and forth. Loves stories. And loves it when we play hide and seek games!

He is in to everything! Even little specks of things on the floor. He gravitates to whatever he should not be getting into. Dinner time especially is very exciting. He's fast and that grip is strong!

Here I am doing a trusty little trick I did with Belle all the time when I needed a breather and snuggle: stare at the fan. So mesmerizing. Really.

I love motherhood more than I ever thought possible.

Cannoli Macarons!

2011-01-25T22:13:00.006-07:00

This months Mactweets challenge is to be inspired by a favorite dessert. One of my favorite desserts: cannoli.

Oh how I love cannoli!

I really fell in love with cannoli when we lived in Montana. It was there where I was introduced to Mezzo Matto Italian Bakery. A dreamy bakery that serendipitously landed itself in Montana after the owners were hit by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

These cannoli were, are AMAZING. We went on Saturday walks almost every week to eat them.

Every time we visit Montana this bakery is first on my list of things to do. I was heartbroken a couple months ago when we visited and the bakery was gone! The wonderful owners moved back to Louisiana. I would be lying if I didn't say that I have contemplated if we would ever take a vacation out that way. They are that good.

Anyway! Snap out of the daydream, back to macs!

I made a basic vanilla mac with this cannoli filling.

The filling is delicious. The mac is a little too sweet for it. Anyone have any ideas on making a cannoli shell inspired mac? I was a little lost on that one.

I'm excited about cannoli macs. I just need to work on the mac part and I think they'll become one of my favorites!

My mac making skills have become a little dusty! Don't let these ones fool you, they are the prettiest of the whole bunch. The other ones fell pretty gooily flat. Although were still devouring them! P.S. Here is take two! I took Lora's suggestion of a chocolate mac with this recipe by David Lebovitz.

Complete with the pistachio crumbs these are a bit more true cannoli! These are my first chocolate macs and I'm happy with how they turned out!

Happy Nursing.

2011-01-18T13:13:00.003-07:00

Koala and I are featured on At Mother's Breast today!

After our difficulties a few different people had told me about Katrina and her breastfeeding photo project and blog. I thought what a wonderful way to celebrate our little victory! Katrina was so lovely and nice and these pictures are definitely something I will cherish.

Katrina's blog is very beautiful. I love reading other mother's experiences.

Before I had Koala I never in a million years thought I would gladly have nursing pictures taken of me! But here I am now and I'm happy.

7 months!

2011-01-14T21:28:00.004-07:00

Koala is seven months! We are having so much fun with him and love him so much!

Playing out in the snow was an event. Full of laughter over how hilariously cute he looked 3x his normal size in his snow clothes. Look at his cute little snow angel!

Man, this little boy holds the key to my heart. So strapping!

Koala has developed so much over the last month! He loves sitting and playing and rolling over and crawling a bit and flinging himself around this way and that. He has very good balance. He can even sit on a ledge for quite some time (like the seat to our exercise bike) with no support (except of course for me spotting him). I think it's pretty cute.

He is exploring everything now. Anything left on the floor is fair game. It is a very fun stage.

Christmas was so much fun with him. Dashing Boy and I were like two little kids again! Koala could sense our excitement so he was very excited too.

I kind of felt like a slightly clueless mom though because two weeks or so before Christmas I knew he was ready to experience more "advanced" toys but I thought we could wait until Christmas morning as they were nicely wrapped under the tree.

Well, boy was he ready! Koala was in pure bliss playing with all his new things! Stacking rings! A musical learning table! A singing kangaroo shape sorter and a jack in the box from his two sets of grandparents! And a lift the flap color spectrum quilt by mom! It was all too much to handle!

In fact, little Koala refused to go to bed Christmas evening. We tried for a solid two hours. Then finally Dashing Boy and looked at each other in defeat, brought koala back downstairs and he was as happy as ever for another hour playing with all of his toys. So of course we got out the video camera and filmed our gleeful boy, saying to him in silly voices, "Koala, I'm the mama and I am in charge, ok?"

Koala is not at all interested in solid food right now, although we offer it to him most nights. He is very dramatic and hilarious with the faces he pulls. Even when we offer him such treats as apple sauce or pears. Those pears are good! I would happily eat them all up but not Koala! Oh well!

He loves story time, his most definite favorite book of all being Tails. He loves this book and all the interaction in it. We probably read it multiple times a day!

I am so happy to be Koala's mom. It's the best thing I've ever done.

We love you sweet boy!

Year of Salad 2011!

2010-12-21T11:42:00.008-07:00

So remember how I ate a salad every day for a year? Well I'm doing it again.

And I've started a little yearofsalad blog to do it.

My very talented and kind friend Candace at A Little Blog designed some awesome graphics for me. I think it looks pretty snazzy and I'm really excited about it.

The other day I got an awesome spam comment on this blog:
"I like browsing your blog because you can constantly get us fresh and cool things, I feel I should at least say thank you for your hard work. -Henry"

Wow, why thank you Henry.

Here's the thing. I love writing. And I do really enjoy blogging. But I've felt pretty conflicted about it lately. Especially now with Koala in the family. I don't want our family life to be so public, you know.

Still, I want to blog. And I've been thinking about doing another year of salad for a while. It's something I genuinely believe in. Eating a salad everyday is a simple goal but one that has positive effects on so many aspects of life.

So I'll be blogging about it this year. Hopefully I can be fresh and cool and maybe make Henry proud.

I would love to have some of you join me if you're interested!

6 Months!

2010-12-13T00:04:00.006-07:00

6 months! My goodness! What a happy 1/2 year! I can't believe I have a 6-month-old. He lights up my world.

Finally, I have a little blog nickname for him. I was waiting for something to fit for him (aside from the usual- honeybunches, little one, sweetie pie, variations using his name, etc.)

Ready?

Henceforth he will be referred to as: Koala!

Why? you ask. Because pretty much he would love to be like this for most of the day:

He loves to hang on us and hang with us. I have absolutely no complaints about this. I dreamed of having a snugly baby.

Koala has been very busy this month rolling and rolling and rolling across the room! It is crazy to lay him down, turn around and 5 seconds later look back and see him in a whole new area of the room!

He likes to lay on his back and push his bum up in the air.

Also, he can sit all by himself now only toppling over when he reaches for a toy or something a little far away. I think the toppling over is adorable.

But his favorite thing to do (in any position he can!) is to hold on to his feet. He is especially entertained when he tries to take his socks off. Mom and Dad are especially entertained when he grabs his feet as we carry him to the tub for bath time and he tries to suck on his big toe like it is his thumb!

I love that little face he's making. He bites down on his lower lip all the time and I think it is very cute. You know when you hang out with someone a lot and start to develop similar tendencies? Well sometimes I find myself biting down my lower lip just like Koala!

Christmas has taken on a new excitement with Koala in the family. We had so much fun getting our tree and stringing the lights. We hung the most fun baby-friendly ornaments in easy reach. Koala loves to lay under the tree and grab them!

I love these little jammies. I believe they were his Aunt Athena's when she was a baby.

Look at the adorable bum:

Koala is very friendly and loves to babble and show off his smile for people. He raises his eyebrows all the time and gives the biggest smiles that make you feel so special. Trips to costco and such take quite the chunk of time as 1. I am always a bit unorganized and 2. Koala captures the attention of many with his friendly grins!

We love you sweet boy! Everyday I thank God for the blessing of being your mother!

5 Months!

2010-11-13T10:02:00.009-07:00

Our lil' cutie pie is 5 months old! I love this little boy so much.

Mmmm pie...
G has become very observant. He loves to soak up and explore everything that is happening all around him and tries with all of his might to reach for whatever looks interesting. He almost always succeeds! We're thinking it's about time to start baby proofing our house a bit!

His language repertoire now includes spitting noises and some more variations to high falsetto squeals and la la la's.

He has become very good at balancing and I think is pretty close to sitting on his own. I love watching him maneuver his body all around to stay balanced as we're holding and playing with him.

Also, when he is on his belly he pushes his bum up in the air and crawls forward the tiniest bit. Dashing Boy and I think it's the bees knees.

My most favorite thing of all though? G gives the best, eat-your-face kisses and is a huge snugglebug. It's a good thing I don't wear makeup because G slobbers all over my face with little kisses throughout the day and it is lovely.

Dashing Boy and I still spend a good portion of our time trying to get some belly laughs from him. Sometimes he looks at us like we are so immature and crazy.

Observe: are we funny G?

We love you cutie pie! (yes, I actually call him that all the time. I'm a cheesy mama :)

Lobster Baby Halloween!

2010-11-02T10:22:00.004-07:00

Little baby G was a cute little lobster for Halloween! It was awesome. Dashing Boy and I decided to be part of the sea creature theme so we were sushi. Thus, our theme became seafood. It was pretty fun though and all of the costumes were comfy which is important.

At the trunk or treat most people didn't know what we were. Also, we decided to pose with a more decorated trunk as ours was spookily decorated with jumper cables ;)! Baby G was a bit confused as to what was going on so he decided to fall very soundly asleep about five minutes in!

I love how cute and squishy he looks in this picture with his grandpa!
This is by far the best Halloween Ive had since I was a child. I was (secretly not) joking all weekend that I have been waiting for this day for 15 years when I became too old to trick or treat. I seriously remember thinking, "Now I am going to have to wait until I have children until I can go trick-or-treating again. I wonder if people will give me treats too when I take my kids."

I pretty much love candy.

But I love a little lobster most of all!

Tart Cherry Macs

2010-10-24T20:48:00.004-07:00

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month October's mactweets challenge: PINK!

When I was in preschool I met Beep. Beep's mom asked my mom if she could watch Beep after preschool. We became inseparable. The bestest of friends.

Our friendship has continued ever since then. When we were younger our mom's made up lots of names for us such us:

The Thunderettes (for our deep fear of lighting!)
Kindred Spirits (Anne of Green Gables!)
And Bosom Buddies (Going to have to ask mom where that is from- post edit: also Anne of Green Gables! thanks Heidi!)

Who better to make Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Macs with than my bosom buddy Beep?

Beep has been working on her mac skills in her own kitchen and has had some frustration. We decided to make two batches of macs. One using the nut flour she used and another the way I usually make it by grinding up blanched almonds in the food processor.

First we made them with my ground almonds. We added delicious tart cherries to the cookie and infused tart cherry concentrate into our chocolate truffle ganache.

They came out looking like this!:

Yay! Feet! Beep was so excited!

Next we made them with the pre-ground pure almond flour Beep had purchased from the grocery store. You would think this stuff would be really nice for mac making...

But in our little experiment not so! The were flat and sticky and just not the right consistency.

Here they are:
Two girls never looked so happy to have failed macs! It was a blast!

4 Months!

2010-10-12T11:34:00.010-07:00

Our little pumpkin is 4 months old! He continues to wow us with his bright personality and adorable baby grin.

I'm so in love with this little guy. Look at those baby cheeks. I could eat them right up.

This month Lil' G's head control has become very good! He has quite the lovely noggin too- big, bald, and beautiful.

He has been enjoying sitting in his pod chair. He sits in his chair and converses with us every night as we eat dinner together as a family and often during lunch time too. It's so fun.

The big exciting milestone this month: Lil' G can roll over! He does it like it's nothing from back to tummy. He hasn't quite figured out how to get from tummy to back though. I keep telling him use your head! but he doesn't listen.

He has become a thumb sucker! Which I have to say looks pretty darn adorable.

He loves lullabies and story time, especially Dr. Suess. He squeals and talks to the pictures almost the whole time we're reading. I think he likes the truffula trees most.

He HATES being in the carseat. Which can make driving a little stressful. I'm learning different tricks but sometimes the only thing to do is pull over somewhere and help him calm down.

Often when he smiles at you he raises his eyebrows up very charming-like as if he's saying "Hey! Whats up?!" Also he likes to squint his nose.

Our main goal the last while has been to find silly things that make Lil' G laugh. This means we're pretty much dorky parents all the time- both at home and in public. It is totally worth it for those belly laughs though.

In this picture Dashing Boy is dancing and holding a box while singing "This is my box, This is my box. I never travel without my box!" from an opera he had seen. We've been singing this at least once a day for the last week or so and G thinks it is hilarious.

He's looking so grown up! (you know. relatively) We're having so much fun watching our sweet and precious boy learn and grow!

5 years baby!

2010-10-06T16:20:00.002-07:00

I woke up today feeling like it was Christmas morning.

I'm just as giddy as can be having been married now to Dashing Boy for 5 years!

I love you honey!

Nie Nie and Recapturing Beauty

2010-10-01T16:01:00.005-07:00

Two years ago when I first learned about Nie Nie, I instantly fell in love with her.

I went to her blog and read way, way back into her posts about her life as mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and woman.

She embodied all that is lovely and became a huge role model for me.

I loved reading about how she liked to get dressed up nice for her husband when he came home from work. I loved all the little feminine details she included in her dress and house and style.

I got a kick out of one post where her children were staring at her through the sliding glass door after she had humorously locked them all out of the house so she could try to get some things done.

I thought it was wonderful and hilarious how she documented her neighbors front porch goose statue that they dressed up for all the holidays.

She did wonder-mom awesome citizen things with her children such as writing nice, upbeat phrases such as "God Loves You" and posting them around town to brighten up random people's days.

She felt so relatable (even though I'd never have the guts to be so bold and forthcoming!) in her post about hiking up the Y Mountain and arguing multiple times with a man who called her LADY and told her that her dogs must be leashed. Then later she found out the man was one of her dad's friends. She ends her post with "Beware SS (the mans intials) , I’ll be back…don’t you worry dogs in tow!"

I loved her romantic love letters to her husband.

But even more than all of that which was enough alone to inspire me to live my life more fully and love the journey, she taught me and the world the true meaning of beauty as she shared and shares her incredible-in-every-sense-of-the-word journey as a burn survivor. Choosing to see beauty all around her as she lives to watch her children grow, and be with her husband, and laugh with her family and teach us all how to live a good and beautiful life.

I got to see her speak yesterday for the Recapturing Beauty campaign at BYU.

I've been lucky enough to see George Bush speak when he was the president, and both President Obama and Hillary Clinton speak at different rallies. I was actually taken back a bit about how excited and thrilling it was to see and hear all three of these people speak in front of me in real life.

But I was more excited to see Nie Nie speak than all of the excitement of those three combined and then some.

I seriously wanted and was close to giving her a standing ovation as soon as she walked out on the stage.

She did a wonderful job. She testified so powerfully that God lives.

She told beautiful stories like when Mr. Nielson got to go and see her for the first time after the accident. She was in a coma and when he reached for and held her hand her heart rate sped up so much so that the nurses ran into the room and told him that he better not touch her because it was making her too excited. "That was about as hot and heavy as it got during that time," she said as we all burst into laughter.

She cried, and we cried. I think everyone was crying. We all had our eyes and noses dripping!

Nie Nie has helped and continues to help countless women recognize and celebrate the beauty that each of us has in us. truly. She is the greatest role model I've had and have the privilege to look up to.

I, along with the hundreds? thousands? of women that got to hear her speak feel very blessed for that.

And The Seasons They Go Round And Round.

2010-09-29T14:00:00.006-07:00

A few weeks before baby born was boy I talked to a girl who had just had a baby. She said on the way home from the hospital he scratched himself pretty badly on the face.

So in all my baby prep I made sure to purchase some little gloves and baby fingernail clippers.

FYI: baby fingernail clippers do NOT work. They are just like regular adult clippers only with a bunch more plastic on them. We delicately and tenderly cut baby boy's fingernails the day after he was born and poor baby boy still got the bed of his sweet fingertips nipped twice! It was horrible!

So we used the gloves. I thought they looked pretty cute and silly and there was no way I was going to put him through that again. Little baby hands are so sweet to look at though so eventually I resulted to painstakingly filing his nails, a long process.

I was doing this at my parents house when my Grandma reminded me of a much, much superior way of doing this.

Honestly I don't know how my pregnancy and baby brain forgot this little gem of mother wisdom because all growing up my mom would take me out on the porch to trim my fingernails. The memories of these times are lovely as I got to be nurtured and cared for by mom. She used special curved scissors that cut things just right. I thought that was the only way it could be done.

I had only ever seen those scissors at my parents house.

Luckily baby boy was just under two weeks when Grandma got out the scissors. I was so excited and thrilled at the finding as it truly was a bit stressful trimming his lil' nails.

Now I take my baby boy out on the front porch to trim his nails. It is sweet and tender as I think about how now I am the mom. It's a special little thing baby boy and I do each week.

His fingers have never, ever been cut with the scissors. Truly, it is 100x better than fingernail clippers. I thought that these magical scissors were only available at my parents house but silly me that is not so! I guess I'm not abreast on cuticle care because the magical scissors are also called curved blade cuticle scissors and can be found almost anywhere. (Except not in the baby aisle where they really should be marketed!) If you haven't already tried them I think you'll think they're magical too.

Chocolate Dipped "Strawberry Girl" Macs

2010-09-15T21:07:00.004-07:00

This months mactweets challenge: Bake a mac inspired by a favorite summer childhood memory.

When I was younger I loved eating strawberries. They were my most favorite treat.

I loved them so much that quickly I became Strawberry Girl.

All throughout my childhood I collected all things strawberry. Cute outfits with strawberries on them. Little strawberry figurines. And many sweet strawberry tea sets. I think I remember having 10 different ones or something like that and I was so proud of them.

I ate strawberries all the time. Then one day something glorious happened. I was introduced to chocolate dipped strawberries. I had no idea a strawberry could even get any better- but dipped in chocolate! what a treat!

I remember being so excited dipping strawberries with mom. We would buy a Symphony chocolate bar, which I thought was so fancy and dip them and I could eat a bunch.

It was perfect.

So this months macs are appropriately chocolate dipped strawberry flavor. I even found one of my favorite strawberry tea sets to display them on.

They are filled with fresh strawberry Italian meringue buttercream.

And drizzled with delicious Callebaut milk chocolate.

I've been dreaming about macarons for months! These delicate little treats are not easy to come by and expensive when you do (but worth it!) so it is advantageous for macaron lovers to learn the art!

And learning I am! It took me a few trys to get into the mac-making groove. After my little hiatus my first batch of macarons came out looking like this:

bleh. We still ate all of them though :)

The results helped me remember a few things to do differently and the next batch came out like this:

Getting consistently uniform size is so hard for me! I really need to work on my piping! For now, I do my best to at least match both sides of each macaron so the cookie itself is uniform!

3 months.

2010-09-08T20:07:00.004-07:00

G is now 3 months! This month he's been very busy wowing us with all his wonderful baby skills.

He is very talkative and a great conversationalist. He has much to say in sing-song coos and nice baby noises. His aunt Athena says he sounds just like Mowgli from The Jungle Book. It's my favorite. I could just listen to him and talk to him all day long and forever.

He has gotten very good holding his head up and has really been enjoying tummy time lately as he explores things from different angles. Usually he's pretty focused with big curious eyes but if you lay down on the floor with him to say hello, he'll flash you his happy smile.

He's gripping things like crazy. He won't take a pacifier. He likes sucking on his hand and fingers but not a specific finger. Lately he's been grabbing his burp clothes and blankets and sucking on those! Out great neighbors gave us an awesome activity mat and he loves hitting and grabbing the hanging toys and links!

I am loving nursing him. Truly, I just love it. I'm so glad it has worked out for us and because of our struggles I know what a blessing it is to be able to share that connection with him.

Still, Dashing Boy and I both sometimes get excited about feeding him certain foods. Like when we are eating something really good we want him to be able to try it too! What kinds of things will he like? Will he eat anything like his dad? Will he love candy like his mom?

When I was little I thought anything was better with sprinkles.

But babies are perfect just the way they are. And baby G is just wonderful. My sweet constant companion everywhere I go. I love it. We love you G!

Baby Blessing.

2010-08-31T14:00:00.003-07:00

G was blessed Sunday evening by his Daddy. It was beautiful. Dashing Boy did such a beautiful job. I had to dart into the kitchen afterwards to wipe my eyes I was so touched.

We sure love this little guy. It was wonderful to celebrate him.

His blessing gown is an heirloom. Made by my Grandma and worn by all of her children's children for blessings and baptisms. Every baby who has worn the gown has their name embroidered on the slip underneath. G is beginning the next generation of names!

There is also a baby bonnet with it that I just love and think is so precious. But Grandma and everyone gave me orders that G is not to wear the bonnet as it would make him look like a girl.

But I don't always do what everyone says. And I think it's cute and old fashioned. And G is gorgeous. A gorgeous little man. So I took a bunch of pictures of him in it.

I think this one is hilarious: "Hey! What am I wearing!"

He sure is a sweet babe.

Tune out.

2010-08-26T19:48:00.008-07:00

I have a confession. I believe I use the internet too much.

Much. too. much.

I love the internet and think it is wonderful to have so much information so accessible to us. And so I use it frequently. I think of random things throughout the day and then look them up later. I read nice blogs and the news and parenting info. I shop. Or research things that I would like to buy but don't.

Pretty much I do it too much.

The online world can never compensate for the real world in our homes with our children.

I've been thinking about that lately because oftentimes when I am nursing G I catch up on email or research something or do something online that is not even close to being as important as savoring my time with my growing baby.

And then I think to myself, In five years am I going to remember 'random internet search' or sweet, quiet moments with my baby?

You know how they say that nursing is a wonderful bonding time for mother and baby to stare into each others eyes?

Sometimes that doesn't happen. But mostly, it's true. Babies do gaze up at you with their big, loving eyes. Gaze and gaze and gaze for so long that it feels like it penetrates your soul. Truly. They gaze for amounts of time that adults would never dream of staring at someone for. It is lovely.

And in that moment you two are the center of the universe.

Almost a year ago my mom, who drank multiple diet cokes everyday, quit her diet coke drinking cold-turkey. She decided that is what she wanted to do so she jumped right in. She's pretty inspiring.

I don't plan on quitting the internet. But I have been spending substantially less time on it. Just a little every other day or so and not when G is awake.

I hope to maximize the time I do spend on it. To make it worthwhile. And to not fall into aimlessness.

Because that is just silly when there is the cutest, lovely sweet baby, eager to learn from and coo to and smile and gaze at his mama.

I could soak it up forever.

Buddies.

2010-08-19T10:58:00.008-07:00

Last night Dashing Boy was snuggling and talking to G when suddenly and randomly he burst into singing: "My buddy. My buddy!"

then he excitedly exclaimed out loud, "I finally have one!"

It came out of nowhere and he said it with genuineness.

It was awesome and a pretty cute/hilarious spectacle.

We've been laughing about it all night and morning.

I guess Dashing Boy really wanted a My Buddy Doll when he was younger and he never got one. I totally remember the commercial from my childhood and I'm pretty sure my brother wanted one as well.

Ahh to grow up in the 80's.

Those of you who remember this commercial: didn't you think that bike was the coolest?

Baby's First Road Trip.

2010-08-16T12:40:00.010-07:00

Every time Dashing Boy and I go on a road trip I always spend a fair amount of time fussing with car organization. Things like making sure the pillows, cooler, and food are in the right, accessible spots. Also I like to be able to see at least the very top portion out of the back window. That's just safety.

"How are we ever going to fit children and all our stuff and all their stuff in our car one day when we take a family road trip together?" we have wondered out load to each other over the years and on almost every road trip. It has been a big mystery.

Amazingly somehow we managed to make it work just fine. With one child that is. And our hotel cart looked like this:

It was kind of embarrassing pushing it up to the room.

But we had a blast.

We visited old friends. Spent some time with Belle.

We went on dates and ate yummy dinners and fancy chocolates. And sushi which I hadn't eaten for a whole year!

We took our baby to the hot springs. And we showed him all kinds of fun things like the Tetons and some of our favorite spots.

He seemed to fall asleep during the most exciting parts of the vacation.

Those mid-day hotel naps together were my favorite.

Near the end of the road trip (it takes a long time getting places with a baby!) the car was a complete disaster!

But we loved it.

2 months.

2010-08-04T15:17:00.011-07:00

Our sweet baby boy is two months now! I've been enjoying reading the mom and she does all kinds of cute stuff to highlight her children's month to month growth. I thought it would be fun to take some fun pictures too!

This month G (still need to come up with a real blog name! :) has been smiling like crazy. Which means we've all been smiling around here because it is very contagious. Often when I am feeding him and I can tell that he has stopped eating I look down and he has a giant smile on his face. I love it.

Also in his facial expression repertoire: looks of concern.

He's very expressive with is hands. It takes him a good 20 minutes to wake up in the morning as he goes through a stretch and grunting routine.

Mostly G is just such a good baby. He's very mellow and relaxed.

He loves cooing, reading and playtime with dad, stretching, singing, bath time, diaper changing time and especially snuggling.

Which happens to be my favorite thing to do too!

We are so. in. love!

cherry kick

2010-08-03T23:15:00.012-07:00

Saturday morning we went to the farmers market where I was very much so taken by all the pretty cherries.

My favorite stand featured fresh cherry juice, jam, concentrate, pie mix and dried (but juicy) tart cherries.

I purchased the dried cherries and have been loving them. I eat them every morning in my oatmeal. I made some caramels and have been mixing them in those for an extra special treat. And I snack on them like crazy. They are my new candy.

Also I purchased 3 lbs. of fresh cherries which is actually hard to eat quickly so I turned them into a pie. Yum.

I was very proud of myself for doing this. I'm trying to get back into making good dinners most nights. I was kind of hoping Dashing Boy would be very impressed by it and be thinking to himself, "wow what an amazing wife." :)

Here is how I accomplished such a task with my very snugly baby who wanted to stay close:

Baby got flour on his head a couple of times in the baking process and we sang the song from Waitress a bunch of times. It has become one of our favorites.

Mixed Up and Happy.

2010-08-02T07:35:00.006-07:00

When I melted all my pump parts and we had to escape the house, in haste I decided to throw on a pair of jeans as the night was just slightly chilly.

I boldly grabbed my largest pre-pregnancy pair. The first time I was to put on anything non-stretchy-like post-baby.

They most definitely did not fit.

Only to add insult to injury of the whole night mess.

And so a few days later I decided it was time to get back into things.

In high school I ran cross country. At the beginning of the season the coaches would always say the first two weeks would be really hard and you would have to push through it. But then it would get better.

So at 6 weeks postpartum I went out for a run. 6 weeks is like the magical postpartum milestone! yay! With this in mind, somehow I naively thought I was going to have a refreshing run.

Holy Guacamole. Definitely not the same body pre-baby and certainly not even close to high school cross country body.

5 minutes in and my insides felt all funky and mixed up. Which they were. Are.

It's not that I need to fit back into my pre-pregnancy clothes. No that doesn't matter so much. In fact Dashing Boy's cute Grandpa who I love keeps giving me genuinely sincere post pregnancy compliments such as:

"Jenny, your face is chubbier. It sure looks good!" and

"Jenny Darlin' you look so good with a little weight on!"

I love him.

No. It's mostly that I'm hoping to un-mix a little bit my mixed up body. Is that possible? Other women who have had babies, did your body feel mixed up too? It makes sense of course with everything getting all pushed around for baby. It's pretty cool even that the body can do that and positively, beautifully worth it.

So there you have it. I am mixed up. And happy.

also: I have rediscovered swimming because with swimming you can feel free as a fish pre, with, and post baby. It's awesome.

Although I'm still not brave enough to do the little flips at the end of each lap. I'm terrified I'm going to hit my head. I've attempted it a few times but then I get scared and fittingly... all mixed up.

My New Most Favorite Video Ever!

2010-07-21T21:16:00.001-07:00

happy baby from Jenny on Vimeo.

The Most Expensive Breasts in the Universe.

2010-07-18T16:07:00.007-07:00

I would have never imagined that my journey to breastfeeding would hit a climax with me bawling my eyes out as I walked away from my house and into our quiet neighborhood at 1:00 a.m. husband and baby in tow.

A pot of melted pump parts seething on the front porch.

"I'm sooooo sorry!" " I was just trying to feed G!" "How could I be so stupid!" in between sobs.

***

I have a love/hate relationship with the pump.

Love that it is a way for me to provide nutrition for my baby. Love that it helps ensure my milk supply stays intact. Love that it ultimately hopefully is a means to an end of baby at breast.

Hate hate hate it.

HATE!

Anyone who has had to spend a lot of time pumping, feeling tired, sore and unattractive as you glance down at your body in pumping action- a sight so foreign and strangely normal when really really you just want to nurse your baby yourself (and can't) understands this meaning of hate.

***

"And that will be $162," the shopkeeper tells me. On the counter is a hospital grade pump emblazoned with the words "The Liquid Gold Standard."

I am a mother in distress. Truly. I look it too. Holding my little babe I hand over the money, listen to the instructions and take home my bag of goods: a one month pump rental, a bunch of new pump parts that connect to the machine, and some bottles that apparently mimic breasts.

Our breastfeeding journey on day one seemed normal- a bit painful but lovely. But at one week it was discovered that our baby, round and pleasantly sized at birth was not gaining weight.

And so the pumping began.

***

When we were first married we bought a little Martha Stewart kitchen island cart on wheels. In all four apartments we lived in prior to home ownership it was incredibly handy and much used. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it once there was no obvious space for it in our new kitchen. Somehow I knew it would still come in handy.

The pump is now housed on the cart along with a few other things to help us in the pumping/breastfeeding process- water bottles, ointments, etc. The kitchen island transformed into "the lactation station," as we affectionately and a bit sarcastically call it.

Some days I get overly confident and cheerily wheel the lactation station away and into the closet.

But over the next 5 weeks I wheel it out again and again as our breastfeeding roller coaster includes: nipple confusion (yes it's true!), thrush, mastitis, and a big discovery.

***

"I never really see him stick his tongue out much, do you?" I ask Dashing Boy one day.

Since having our baby I had heard the term "tongue tie" a few times. Our baby had been checked for a classic tongue tie immediately following his birth. But there are other tongue ties apparently. Less obvious ones.

One morning I decided to google it. "Posterior tongue tie," and "Tongue tie symptoms."

An article comes up and goodness gracious we have every single symptom: slow weight gain, breast infections, baby tiring at breast then hungry again, marathon feedings, sore nipples etc, etc.

***

"By the time all this is done, you are going to have the most expensive breasts in the universe!" my mom tells me one day.

We had just had our baby's tongue clipped- a procedure not covered by insurance.

One of the benefits of breastfeeding you hear, is that it is free!

Between pump and scale rentals, pump parts, lactation consultants, ointments and medications- and now this- well, lets just say that getting liquid gold to our baby has not been a cost-savings journey.

***

A large pot of water sits on the stove. It has been there for weeks now, part of the pumping routine.

The method goes like this: feed baby, pump, sterilize.

over and over.

This extra step to everything is incredibly annoying but I am determined to fight away the thrush monster.

***

"Six weeks. Just make it through six weeks and I promise you it will get better," my mother-in-law advised me about breastfeeding when I was pregnant.

Six weeks! I thought. That is a long time!

***

11:00 at night and time for bed. Rinsed off pump parts are sitting on the counter.

Feeling really responsible I think to myself and even say out loud, "I better sterilize these pump parts so I don't have to do it in the middle of the night."

We have gotten into sort of a routine. Baby sleeps for a nice 4-5 hour stretch, I feed him, then I pump right after. With all that has gone on, I'm just not confident yet that I can stop pumping. I want to make sure I keep my supply up, save the liquid gold.

I fill up the pot, plop all the parts inside and turn the heat to high.

***

12:30 I am laying in bed, just having nursed the baby when I hear a faucet running.

Oh no! We must have left a faucet on. I better go turn it off so it doesn't run all night.

Sleepily, I walk into the bathroom. No leaking faucet. I barely make it to the kitchen and see it immediately.

The pot is sitting on the stove, plastic sizzling and bubbling. Smoke fills the kitchen- a terrible, chemical burning smoke.

"DASHING BOY!" I scream as I take the pot off the stove and set it on our cutting board, burning that in the process.

***

Looking into the pot you would think I would be saying to myself. "I can't believe I forgot about this but thank goodness I caught it before I burned the house down." Or maybe even. "Oh my goodness perhaps I should put a shirt on before I handle this thing as it is extremely dangerous."

But no.

I look into the pot and the first thing that comes to my mind that seems so devastating is, "Oh no! How am I going to pump tonight?" staring at the parts all jumbled up as if I can problem solve and come up with a way to make them still work.

And then I know I've reached my breaking point. Entered into the crazy.

Thankfully Dashing Boy comes downstairs with some sense. He takes the pot and sets it outside. He opens some windows to begin to air the house out. I snap out of it for a second and follow suit.

The smoke seriously burns when you breath it in. We have got to get G out of here, we both say.

***

So here we are walking around the neighborhood in the middle of the night, waiting for things to clear up before we can sleep soundly again.

"It's ok honey." "It could have been a lot worse." Says my kind Dashing Boy.

and I cry and cry.

Eventually we make it back to the house, lay a blanket and some pillows on the lawn and wait just a bit longer.

***

I look at the pot again, and part of me feels very victorious. Like, "yeah! in your face pump!" as I stare at half-there flanges that never will be again. And then another part is sad to see it go down so viciously as I suddenly feel sentimental toward the pump parts that helped me and my baby through our breastfeeding journey, tear.

Still another parts knows that likely I will be back at the store buying all the parts again. And that part of me makes a mental tally of that expense-and even more-so the cost of our beautiful pot. Just add it to the list.

***

But it's been 5 days now and I haven't pumped once. Baby is happy- he's eating. His cheeks are getting chubby.

And we are six weeks out.

(And boy do I hope we stay here! Thank you to everyone that helped so much- Dashing Boy, Mom, Cristie, Lactation Consultant, kind friends- and the wonderful la leche league. The support means everything.)

All Dressed Up and Ready for Church.

2010-07-18T14:57:00.001-07:00

Growing.

2010-07-10T13:12:00.007-07:00

I've been so busy doing my best to feed and nourish my little one that yesterday when I went out to the garden I was amazed and also pleased to see that there were some things to harvest, despite my lack of nourishing it.

And so I took my baby out to the garden, handed him a cosmic purple carrot, and took some pictures. Giving him things to hold and watching him hold them is just too darn cute. He's already pulling faces on me that say, C'mon on Mom, really? It's awesome.

When I was nesting I focused a lot on the garden. We had built square foot garden boxes in the fall. And so once spring arrived I busied myself making sure they were complete. I planted seeds, went to garden stores many times and built the grids to go on top. It looked/looks like a little oasis and as I did all these things with my pregnant belly I imagined myself out in the garden each morning with my baby on my hip.

It was a very nice, idyllic image.

Instead Dashing Boy has been the garden waterer and despite his busy schedule has managed to care for it and keep it all alive. Also, square foot gardening is pretty darn cool and low maintenance so we've had that on our side.

Now reality has set in a bit. And in real life, we are not out frolicking in the garden.

But that is ok. Because there is still happy frolicking going on here. It's just mostly inside my house, with or without a shower, sleepiness, sore nipples and a baby I could (and do) kiss a million times a day.

The Birth Story.

2010-07-02T17:08:00.014-07:00

( I decided I wanted to share our birth story. I know some people don't like such a thing. So just skip this post if that is you but I'm a believer that hearing positive stories about childbirth is only positive, especially in a culture where childbirth is scary and feared.)

One month ago at this time I was in labor.

I had sort of been in labor for weeks. Baby low as could be. Dilated to numbers that my pregnancy book stated were in the "active stage" of labor, "*except for in a very small percentage of women," it said.

For weeks Dashing Boy and I were prepared for an early arrival. Bags packed and in the car. House immaculately clean. During the days I could feel my body changing, preparing. And at nights Dashing Boy and I would fall asleep both secretly thinking we might wake up to "This is it!" with a wild, exciting, middle-of-the-night drive to the birthing center.

But morning after morning arrived, uneventful.

"You know we can stir things up if you would like," my wonderful midwife had mentioned on and off for over a week. She said I was a highly favorable candidate for doing so.

And so we filed that away and instead went on long walks every night and waited and decided we really wanted our baby to come whenever he was ready.

The due date passed, no big deal, except for everyone reminding and inquiring about such an event. And then a few days passed and I was UNcomfortable. Very much so. And it seemed like our boy was doing his part in making his grand entrance. He was ready. And we were too. And so we decided to stir things up.

***

We visited my midwife on a Friday morning. She stripped my membranes, I drank some cohash. Then Dashing Boy and I went out to breakfast and on a nice long walk. We came home, I took a nap. Then at the very end of the day we headed back to the midwife's to assess where things were at.

"Well you guys can get comfortable and settled in because there is no way I'm sending a woman home when she is a 6."

It looked like stirring things up tipped me just over the edge of the labor dilation threshold! Could it really be?! It didn't seem like I was at a 6, based on how I had heard other women describe being at that place. But we were there!

We decided to strip my membranes once more to see how that might speed things up. And then Dashing Boy and I went to the mall to walk around. And I'm not kidding, it was pretty fun to walk around there with this giant fun secret that I was in active labor the whole time. Things were getting more intense. I thought it would be fun to purchase a little outfit for our baby on the way and we excitedly did so.

Back at the birth center, Mom came and we ate Vermont cheddar cheese with crackers and popcorn and Dashing Boy read me poetry as I went through contractions. It felt like a sleepover party, for real.

During the pregnancy Dashing Boy and did hypnobabies classes which were great. I listened to some hypnobabies during this time of the labor but mostly I chatted with mom and my midwife and Dashing Boy.

***

Later in the evening my midwife thought it would be beneficial to see where my progress was-- almost none. She suggested breaking my bag of waters.

Throughout the final weeks of my pregnancy she mentioned this quite a few times as she had suspected it might be the trick . But this seemed kind of invasive to me. Also, I was worried that it would bring things on with a rapid intensity all at once instead of gradually building up to things and that scared me.

I decided to wait one more hour, then see where things were and decide at that point if that was the best course of action.

***

One hour later and we decided to do it. I was feeling awesome. La la la la la. Isn't the labor sleepover party so fun! And now we're going to break my bag of waters! Party party party!

Holy Moley it was not even five minutes after that (she did say my bag of waters was very strong!) things instantly became extraordinarily intense. My goodness, it hit me like lightening and all the hypnobabies and relaxation techniques in the world had no chance of catching up. My fear was right.

Dashing Boy was awesome. Right by my side. And Mom was too. I got in the tub and during contractions Mom poured water over my back which was so nice and Dashing Boy held me.

I remembered a wonderful cheesy mantra from hypnobabies:
"In between my wonderful pressure waves I smile and feel very happy," and advice from Ina May to savor and enjoy the breaks between contractions. And so I smiled! I was very happy! This was really happening!

And then a pressure wave would come, gracefulness would fly out the window and it would all be very intense. My midwife kept saying "Alright Jenny 60 seconds. You can do anything for 60 seconds." And while I would be in the middle of a contraction I would think to myself "Hey I'm probably 30 seconds into this! I only have 30 seconds left!" That advice helped immensely.

Even in the most intense part of things I remember thinking how happy I was that I didn't have an epidural. (That is not to say that I don't understand why others want/need an epidural, every labor is so different. Everyone knows and does what they feel is best for them and that is just how it should be.)

Finally a little over an hour and I looked up and announced to everyone that I was done and I just wanted to go home and take a nap.

And then that phase was over.

And suddenly it didn't hurt at all anymore.

***

The most extreme focus and concentration I have ever experienced came over me. I was a completely different person from the previous hour or so. In total, one hour of trying my hardest for controlled pushing.

When he crowned my midwife got a mirror and asked me if I wanted to see, wanted to touch his head. I was so focused that I did both of these things so quickly then went back to hyperconcentration. I could hardly grasp really that I was actually having a baby.

Pushing did not hurt as badly at all as it had been built up to me over my entire life of hearing about childbirth. Don't get me wrong. I'm not superwoman, I definitely felt it. Maybe in my head I had imagined much worse. Maybe the hypnobabies techniques had seeped into my being. I don't know. But my honest reaction was, "this is it?! I can do this."

***

2 hours and 20 minutes after we broke my water... and these beautiful words: "Alright Jenny, Here comes your baby!"

I could hardly believe it. I reached down and pulled my beautiful boy up to my chest. He was covered in beautiful vernix. Seriously I think that stuff is beautiful and amazing. Right away he let out some cries. Dashing Boy leaned in and we sat there in awe staring at our baby. My goodness. It's just such a miracle!

For the next 3 hours we stayed up loving our baby. The birth center was wonderful. My midwife made hot cinnamon rolls for us that night and fresh breakfast the following morning. Truly it felt like a bed and breakfast.

As far as the recovery goes, I think however you birth, you'll pretty much feel like you've been hit by a truck afterwards. But then you have this awesome beautiful little baby there and there is no question how worth it it all is. I did feel substantially more normal by 9-10 days postpartum (aside from our breastfeeding saga-bah!)

I can't believe our boy has been with us an entire month! He is such a blessing in our lives. Being a mom is wonderful and hard and I feel so privileged to be here!

So here is our little monkey at one month. We couldn't be happier with him!

If you need a smile...

2010-06-28T10:49:00.003-07:00

here's a really good one.

The Baby Marriage

2010-06-20T08:05:00.007-07:00

When Dashing Boy and I became engaged 5 years ago (today!) a thought came into my mind "Sure, I'm excited about the wedding but mostly I am excited about being married." And so in the months leading up to our wedding I spent more time daydreaming about life as a wife and less time dreaming about all the little details that accompany a wedding. In the end, the wedding itself was beautiful and indeed fulfilled my dreams, but it was driving away from the temple with Dashing Boy- a marriage begun- that was the most poignant part of everything.

When I became pregnant with our baby, daydreams did fill my heart and days as I thought about what it would be like to have a baby in our home. But also, it was something that seemed so abstract. And before the baby would be in our home, I would have to bring him here. And so I focused my efforts on the birth. I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth highlighting helpful passages the whole way through, then re-reading those passages (absolutely most helpful thing I did). Dashing Boy and I attended six weeks of hypnobabies classes and practiced scripts and such with each other.

And then the birth day arrived. And it was wonderful! I loved it in fact. I had prepared myself going into it. I think I might tell more of our birth story another day, but it was everything I had hoped for. A beautiful experience and entrance to the world and our family.

In a way, it was kind of like the wedding part of the whole experience. Surreal. Wonderful. Powerful love emotions everywhere.

Our baby was here. The birth wedding was over and now it was time for the marriage part- the new family life. While I had prepared for the birth so well, it seemed like this part would come so naturally-- and a lot of it has. But somehow in all my preparations, my daydreams of this new time did not include one very vital detail.

When I first nursed our baby and in the first two days everything seemed to be going as expected. My nipples hurt, but I had heard that would most likely be the case. But then they hurt so much that I made an emergency phone call to a friend who just had her third baby. She rushed over to my house, took one look at me, gave me some vital tips and kindly asked if she could help me correctly latch my baby. (Yes! Please do!) Goodness was I ever doing it wrong. My daydreamed, not-ever-having-closely-watched-someone-breastfeed image of nursing was enabling me to breastfeed my baby by letting him suck on my nipples and not breasts! Oy! No good. Who knew?!

With my newfound latching knowledge we were off to a much better start. But then about a week in, our little boy started throwing up. It seemed as though he was throwing up entire meals (this hasn't happened since). We of course were very concerned. So we called the pediatrician and went in to weigh our baby the next day so we could have some peace of mind that everything was fine.

It wasn't fine. One week after his initial weight loss and our boy hadn't gained back any of his birth weight.

And so, out came Mama Bear. I sprung into action. I went to a lactation store. I rented a hospital grade pump so I could increase my milk supply. We fed him a little formula. Bought bottles supposed to be like breasts (they aren't). Used the SNS system with my pumped milk. Kind friends came over and gave me helpful advice and encouragement.

Let's just say this last week has been operation feed baby.

I have never shown so many people my breasts in my whole life. And I think I am getting resigned to just going shirtless at home now. It is just so much easier. I feel like the African women in Babies- what is the point of covering up?

This process has been extremely emotional for all of us here. Actually mostly me and Dashing Boy. On the cusp of a huge breakdown on Friday a wonderful lactation consultant came over. Our calm little guy is just very sleepy and instead of letting us know when he is hungry he just resigns himself to sleep (his active alert times slide away to sleeping time when he eats despite our best efforts, go figure). Keeping him awake through an entire feeding is like a circus act I tell you. She showed us all kinds of tricks.

She also rented us a milk intake scale so we can monitor his progress from home- a huge help. Between all the things we've been doing, I'm exhausted and all I can think about is milk. That's pretty much all I'm doing right now- and it is hard. I now understand why breastfeeding support groups exist.

But seeing that he got a full meal, and holding a milk-drunk baby with a milky white tongue and a satisfied expression on his face-- well that makes all this hard work worth it.

Indeed, those moments have been some of the most poignant we've had with our baby to date.

Our Boy.

2010-06-10T15:48:00.009-07:00

This whole week has been magical. There is something sacred really about having such a young spirit, just days old in our home. I have felt such a love surge flowing in and all around me for our little boy. I know Dashing Boy has as well. We are so happy.

My mom gave me a book when I was pregnant titled "Best Baby Ever!" In it baby's parents cannot contain their excitement over everything that baby does. "Isn't he the best baby ever!" they say to everyone.

Well isn't he? :)

Here are some images of our sweet boy his first week.

Less than a day old!

I am loving being a mom. loving it.

He's Here!

2010-06-08T20:27:00.004-07:00

(nenito: cute lil' baby in Argentine Spanish)

June 4th 10:57 pm
8 lbs 2 oz!
20 inches

You know that hymn "Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth"? Well my goodness, is it ever true. We are so in love.

Thank you for all the love and emails. The birth was amazing. Dashing Boy and I are very much in a state of awe with our sweet boy. My heart is just overflowing with gratitude and love.

B is for Birth Day.

2010-05-31T07:26:00.003-07:00

(beyond awesome alphabet letter cards made by the extremely talented Candace for a sweet dinner she and her family hosted for me and my family! I very much think she should open a shop!)

My mom just told me I need to write another blog post. And if there is one thing I know, it is that it is wise and good to listen to your mother.

I have been talking a lot to my baby recently.

You see, tomorrow is my birthday and I've been asking my baby when he wants his birthday to be.

I of course let him know that any day he chooses is perfect. But I've been reminding him that if he wants a May birthday there are only so many days left. With a May birthday you can bring cupcakes to school on your actual birthday, I tell him.

And then I wonder to myself, will I be 25 or 26 when I have my baby?

I am pretty sure he is listening to me. Both in my womb and heaven above. Because, you know, it is wise and good to listen to your mother.

Yes. He is listening. Listening and taking it all in, and then listening some more. Day after day until the month of May is nearly over and his momma will be 26.

Because beautifully for him, he gets to carve his own path and make his own choices. Beginning with the day of his Birthday.

And so sweet baby, I will tell you, there are great things about being born in the month of June too. Like how it is nicely tucked in the middle of the year. And how the sun comes out even more, shining its happy rays with breezy touches.

I know this June in particular will be very very special.

Bump. 38 Weeks.

2010-05-20T09:02:00.005-07:00

Here we are 38 weeks! I can't believe it! People are asking me now if I am "so ready to be done?" and I guess I have to say that mostly I am so ready to meet our baby. I get so excited thinking about it. Pregnancy has been such a part of me these last nine months. It seems like I will just keep on being pregnant forever now. Which if there wasn't this awesome sweet little baby to meet would be ok with me. For the most part :)

So here I am 38 weeks:

feeling very roundish

indeed.

We love you baby and can't wait for your arrival!

Parents-in-Waiting.

2010-05-17T15:43:00.006-07:00

I think it's safe to say that my mind is very very very one-track right now. Truly, it could still be weeks away, but Dashing Boy and I are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our baby and upcoming parenthood.

I used to look at pregnant women and couples as they were approaching their birthing times and think to myself, "Wow, their life is going to change so much." I would think about silly things like how currently their life was very mobile. Like how she could get in and out of the car quickly and run errands, go to movies, etc. But within a day or a week or so that would instantly change.

Last week Dashing Boy said he wanted to go to a movie in the movie theater. I guess we sort of figure that in the beginning that won't be such an easy thing to do as parents. We saw Dragons in 3d. It was pretty cool, definitely.

But I kind of thought what was even cooler was how giddy we were to be going to a movie together before we become parents. That thought made going to the movies even more exciting. And as we were watching the movie and I turned to my Dashing Boy staring at the screen in his 3d glasses I was overcome with love for this man (wonderfully nerdy sometimes) who is going to be the greatest father.

Don't we look like we could be/are dorky parents in those glasses? I think so, and I think that is very exciting.

Baby Sewing Projects

2010-05-10T10:12:00.004-07:00

Sewing for baby has been very fun and wonderful. I have enjoyed it because it has been a time for me to focus on expressing my love in a simple way for someone I have yet to meet.

Dashing Boy says its been a crazy experience to prepare our baby's space for him. Bare or filled and it wouldn't make any difference to him, but it has been a sweet little time for us together and we enjoy going in his room and being in awe at how our family is changing.

This love for a soon-to-be family member can be expressed in so so many ways. Not just ones that use domestic skills.

***

Sewing is something I have watched my Grandma do my entire life. She is amazing and is a true artist. With her so close by, it has been a blessing to be able to learn from her and see her love and dedication to her art.

Grandma's enthusiasm is contagious and now one year into really sewing-sewing I love it very much.

Here are the baby projects- a baby quilt, curtains and bedskirt.

The Quilt:

Vintage Circles Quilt by Yo Yo Mama Designs (I can't seem to find a website!): I fell in love with this pattern when I saw it at a local quilting store. There is no piecing to it, and the entire quilt is sewn and quilted in one go. So basically you baste your backing to the batting, then your top layer to the batting, then you arrange your pattern and sew all three layer at once. Pretty nifty.

I enjoy staring at it and seeing different shapes form. When I look at it I see pinwheels first and when dashing Boy looks at it he sees circles.

My cute Grandma came up to my house to help me baste the quilt layers together. She showed me a fast way to draw a grid on the quilt to properly space out the pattern! She knows all sorts of tricks that I would never think of.

This pattern was fairly easy to follow but the biggest frustration came from the pattern stating that charm packs could be used for either the 4'' or 5'' size patches (you can choose either one).

I ordered my charm packs accordingly for the 5" size. But when it came time to cut it out there was absolutely no way the 5" template would fit on a 5" charm square. Very frustrating.

(I just received a sweet message from Yo Yo Mama Designs and it looks like there was a distortion in the first printed patterns and some were sold before it was caught! The pattern has been revised so this shouldn't be a problem for anyone! Also, they are in the process of making a website! Very exciting, as I am absolutely in love with this pattern and excited to see and make more Yo Yo Mama creations!)

I ended up cutting them out in the 4" size. The charm pack fabric I used (Recess by American Jane) is out of print, and it was a little tricky to find so I supplemented them with some fat quarters for the rest of my patches. I'm happy with how it turned out!

Here it is all completed.

The Curtains:

Dashing Boy was a great sport and joined me to the fabric store where he chose one print and I chose another. I was going to make reversible curtains but with such light prints it was easier to just make two sets that we can rotate around.

I chose little birds.

And Dashing Boy chose cool cars!

The Bedskirt:

Nice and easy to make with the bedskirt pattern in Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones.

So there you are sweet baby. Keep the projects coming!

A Nurse is Born!

2010-05-07T17:47:00.005-07:00

Congratulations Miss Nurse Juju.
(Seen here in her ultra cute retro bicycle dress with circa 1958 retro pyrex!!!)

You will be a wonderful, wonderful nurse.
Your patients will be so lucky to have you!
I am lucky to have you too! Both as a sister and as a nurse Juju.
Thank goodness you are already on speed dial on my phone.
I'm so proud of you!

Nesting Times

2010-05-03T15:16:00.003-07:00

This weekend I went to the DI and had one of those "hit" kind of days. It began with a perfect, inexpensive little bookcase for the baby's room, then next, this awesome retro little school desk that had me excitedly talking to myself out loud, and it ended with a lone gliding ottoman for the cheap.

It was just a little too exciting to have such a successful thrift store day all in one store, so I called Juju. Because if anyone can understand the thrills to your soul of great thrift finding days, it is Juju. I do believe going to the DI is one of her relaxing joys in life.

I wanted so badly to sit in that desk. It just looked fun, you know? Well that is a pretty dumb idea when you are almost 9 months pregnant. And I was defeated very quickly. Dashing Boy however, did get to try it out. And then he said, "He is going to love it Jenny." Which was very nice of him, as he could see my excitement and eagerness for him to approve random DI purchase.

Seeing him test that chair out and be excited made my heart melt a bit.

It is a bit riveting for us, transforming our house for our baby.

I seriously can't believe it.

Yesterday I made a long to-do list. The to-do before baby comes list (although none of it is really that important if it doesn't get done).

I'm feeling ambitious, And Dashing Boy has told me that he thinks I am in that "nesting time" everyone talks about.

But really I know the truth. The truth being that I can tell my productive energy is quickly sinking into I-would-just-love-to-watch movies and take naps and imagine our baby and process just a little bit this transition from me to motherhood.

Mothers (and Fathers) Will Protect Their Babies.

2010-04-28T07:43:00.016-07:00

Last night we had a crazy wind storm.

Dashing Boy and I had just gotten securely, safely inside our house after being out when I remembered something important.

The little birds nest in our front tree. Perfect and sweet with 5 blue eggs nestled inside. How were the babies coping in this storm? Had they come out of their shells yet? Would they be ok?

I ran out the front door and peeked inside. I couldn't see anything. It was so dark, the wind was howling, and the little tree was swaying back and forth.

"Do you think they are ok? Do you think they're still in there?" I asked Dashing Boy.

And then I ran inside to find a little light. Nothing too bright, just something to check with quickly.

Just like Dashing Boy is very gentle and gingerly whenever he feels our baby moving around in my stomach ("Don't push hard!" he'll say. "We don't want to hurt him!") he was protective of the little birds too. He wondered if shining a light was really the best idea.

But I was already in action. I had grabbed my cell phone (often a handy flashlight) and headed back out to the nest. I opened it up, held it close. And I realized my face was about two inches away from Mama Bird. She was there, of course, protecting her little babies.

It was a beautiful sight. There she was, all ruffled out, covering her little ones as the wind tossed the tree back and forth, back and forth. She was with them, weathering the storm.

I knew I could go back inside and sleep peacefully. Mother bird had it covered. And mothers know just how to make the world safe for their babies when things are windy and rough.

As I was falling asleep, feeling the movements of our little baby inside me, I thought about the wind. Thought about it howling over our house. I thought about how we were safely nestled inside our home and our baby was safely nestled inside me. No idea of the storm that was outside. Safe and protected.

My mom knows just the ways to make me feel safe and loved in all types of life weather. And now I am a mom. It is crazy, exciting, and sometimes scary to think about.

But one thing I know for sure. I love our son so much, and will be there for him wholeheartedly. Like a Mama Bird.

Baby birds this morning

Mini Tunic with Sleeves.

2010-04-22T11:59:00.006-07:00

With my self imposed baby sewing week (ahem! weeks) complete, I was very excited to make a top for Made by Rae's Spring 2010 Top Week!

Here is my spring top!

Because it has been ever so faithful as pregnancy tunic I used Amy Butler's Mini Dress and Tunic pattern once again. Only this time I added sleeves which was a huge feat for me. I have never altered a pattern before and so I spent a lot of time staring at things over and over again and sewing and picking out stitches until I had it the way I hoped for.

Instead of adding the tucking detail on the dress straps I added it on the sleeves. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

I used Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom fabric in mustard that I had in my stash. I love that this fabric quite perfectly matches my favorite pair of crocs!

Secretly I'm kind of hoping this top will be one I can wear after having the baby as it seems like it would provide a nice little tent-ish space for him to fit in comfortably while nursing while also giving a bit of privacy at the same time. We shall see...

I've been having lots of fun looking at everyone's awesome spring tops on flickr! Happy Springtime and Happy Earth Day!

Bump. 34 weeks.

2010-04-21T11:46:00.005-07:00

In the last month I think my stomach has doubled in size! Now I can feel the baby's movements really strongly. Only except feeling like kicks they feel like long stretches out. I feel (and see) his little heels and bum poking out all throughout the day now and once I even felt his hand stretch out in my belly. I instinctively put my hand right on top of it and it was so obvious it was a hand. Pretty amazing!

Dashing Boy has pointed out recently that the 5 shirts I rotate wearing around are all worn out on the belly because I rub it so much. I didn't even realize how much I was doing it, but looking at all my shirts it is true! The materiel is matting up right where baby sits. I guess I'm pretty content just rubbing my belly all day :)

Which when I think about it, if I don't even realize my belly rubbing, it makes sense how random people rub my belly also. The growth of a baby in the womb is just pretty darn amazing. Luckily I have only felt slightly awkward once by someone touching my belly. Mostly I'm just so excited to have a belly poking out.

I feel like I have so much to do before baby arrives! I can't believe how close that will be! Nothing like having a new addition to the family to motivate me to get things in order!

Very Dangerous Bison.

2010-04-19T11:34:00.005-07:00

Once when we lived in Montana my Mom and Dad drove up for a visit and I got a semi-frantic phone call that went something like this:

Mom: "Hi Jenny! Is a bison going to run in front of our car? I just saw a sign to look out for bison crossing the road. Do they do that often? Do they trample across? Is it dangerous driving through here?"

Me: "Mom, you will definitely know way ahead of time if bison are crossing the road and you will have more than enough time to slow down and wait for them."

Mom: "Well do they go fast?"

Me: "What sign did you see?"

Mom: "It had an animal on it that had antlers and it said watch out for bison or something."

Me: "Are you sure it wasn't an elk or deer something on the sign..."

and so on.

Needless to say on that trip Mom and I joked many times about the dangerous bison.

Now this is one of our running jokes. Once Mom even found a newspaper article about someone being gored by a bison and she sent it to me with a note saying "See. Watch out. Very dangerous bison."

(Which by the way is true. If they are provoked they can be very dangerous.) They just don't generally run out of nowhere in front of cars like deer. If you stay in your car or farther back they are really not much of a danger at all.

Oddly, since that time I haven't had a bison encounter. Until our drive home the other day. We were driving along and then lo! in front of us a herd of bison crossing the road!

It was very serendipitous and I had a lot of fun texting mom pictures and messages about our encounter.

Hopefully one day we won't really cross a running bison on the road because that indeed seems very dangerous!

Dream Vacation

2010-04-13T20:41:00.007-07:00

Dashing Boy and I are visiting our old abode this week. I asked Dashing Boy if it is a little stressful having me join him on the trip because instead of coming back to the hotel and resting after work, I have all sorts of social things and such lined up for us.

It is wonderful to have friendships that are still maintained and cared for even when distance becomes part of the equation.

And so I went with Belle's mom to pick her up from preschool today. And she ran out to greet us with the sweetest shy expression. She was shy with me for five minutes and then she was full of crazy energy all afternoon, so excited to talk and show me her life.

Goodness, if I feel this much love as a former nanny I can only imagine the amount of love I will feel as a mother!

It is exciting thinking of this as being our last trip before we have a baby! I get so happy thinking about it.

When we first found out we were pregnant I asked Dashing Boy if there were any big trips or things he wanted to do before our baby arrived. "No, not really at all," he said. I said the same thing back. We couldn't think of a dream vacation (hypothetically of course :)

Because mostly I think that dream vacation in our heads is time at home with our baby and families. And camping trips with our children, and some late night cuddles on the couch.

I am sure that it will evolve a bit, perhaps to a chocolate tour of Europe or something :) but for now I'm grateful to take a short little trip to Montana then head back home to our dream vacation.

Vanilla Macarons with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

2010-04-10T10:38:00.005-07:00

This months Mactweets Challenge: make some macs influenced by any April Holiday.

How exciting! I chose Arbor Day- April 30th with one idea in mind- vanilla vanilla vanilla!

From wikipedia: Vanilla grows as a vine, climbing up an existing tree.

How wonderful is that?

I made the vanilla macs with vanilla powder- my first time cooking with it. After experimenting with it a bit two teaspoons seemed to provide the nicest vanilla flavor to the macs!

To finish off the vanilla theme: vanilla bean Italian meringue buttercream!

I experimented with Bonnie and Cristie's advice from their last Mactweets challenge and used an airbake cookie sheet. None of my tops cracked! But I still need to figure out the best temperature to bake them at with my oven.

I kept them their natural color this time, adding white edible shimmer dust to them after they were done baking!

So Happy Arbor Day! Flavor-wise these are my favorite macs I've made yet. I think I'll have to make these again on the real holiday!

Hair Times.

2010-04-07T16:40:00.007-07:00

Dear Dashing Boy,

Yesterday morning I woke up and you had no hair. I sleepily remembered that you had left for the barbershop at 7am and then it was 8am and you had shaved your hair all off. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing because you were so cute and it was a very bold thing for you to do.

When I fell in love with you your hair looked like this:

You were very dashing.

Now your hair looks like this:

You are very dashing.

Hair or no hair, you are my Dashing Boy and I love you so.

Love,
Jenny

Some Bunny Loves You.

2010-04-05T07:29:00.003-07:00

Every year Dashing Boy and I go to the store before Easter and do a little basket shopping. It's a fun little tradition and we have a lot of fun together meandering through the store and choosing things we don't normally purchase.

Some years we split up and make baskets for each other and some years we make one together. We always seem to go the night before Easter which if we were getting lots of Easter themed candy would really be a bad idea. Better remember that.

This year while I was searching for kookaburra licorice Dashing Boy got caught by a tall display of canned sweet corn.

Happy Easter!

Also, I really enjoyed having General Conference on Easter Sunday with so many beautiful messages of Christ. It felt like a wonderful way to spend the holiday.

Early Bird

2010-04-01T07:59:00.005-07:00

Lately I have really been trying to get a good nights rest (and then some sometimes).

I wake up many times during the night, but luckily I have been blessed with genes that allow me to fall asleep quickly. (Anyone who knows my dad and has carried on a conversation with him in the evening can attest to this :)

So usually I fall right back to sleep except during occasional times when I get so giddy excited that it is impossible. And I crawl back into bed, spoon my Dashing Boy and think away.

Lately when I do that our little baby kicks and moves around like crazy, his busy movements touching both Dashing Boy and me. And we lay there together, husband and wife and baby all jumbled up together. And I think it feels like bliss.

My wake-up time this last little while I am slightly embarrassed to admit has been 8 to 9 ish. Never before 8. I have been so tired and have gotten so used to this schedule that somehow I think that anything before 8 is early.

Like last Saturday we took our car in somewhere and Dashing Boy was going to go at 8 and I said to him. "You better call and make sure they are open so early." and Dashing Boy laughed and said 8 isn't early.

Which it isn't. Why do I think this? I have consistently gotten up much much earlier before. I am so lucky to have a spouse who now kindly teases me all the time about things being "so early" but who is so supportive.

You know when someone calls you in the morning just after you have woken up and you try to sound like you have already been awake and chipper for a few hours?

Well I must not be very good at it, In my head I am doing a great job, but really it must be bad. Because today, just after 8 (I had woken up already) I got a call and as soon as I started talking the lady was so apologetic. "Oh no, I have called you too early." she said. "I am so so sorry."

Oh dear.

I think I realize that soon sleep in this fashion will never ever be anymore. So for now, (to a certain extent) I let myself indulge a bit in sleepiness. Because as my good friend told me, soon 4 will be the new 8. Or something like that.

Baby Sewing Week!

2010-03-29T10:41:00.011-07:00

This week I plan on setting up shop on our dining room table with my sewing machine and lots of fabric.

I'm starting to feel like its time to get things in order.

Last week Dashing Boy and I decided it was time to purchase a crib, as at many places it takes a few weeks for them to get here once you order. We found a lovely little crib in the sea of many cribs at the store.

Dashing Boy was cracking me up as he was a little overwhelmed and said he wasn't ready to make a lifetime decision for our child with the "lifetime bed" -a crib that converts to a full bed.

So now that we've made that important decision it's time for new projects.

This week I'm feeling ambitious. So the goal is this: Make the bedskirt for baby's crib, reversible curtains for nursery, and get a very nice start on his baby quilt.

The pieces are cut out (above) and all the fabric for all the projects has been properly prepared- grain straitened, washed and ironed.

So workshop in the living room it is.

Also, check out this fun event.

I'm hoping to participate after I finish my projects.

Bump. 30 weeks.

2010-03-24T12:11:00.008-07:00

Third trimester!

Lately people are asking me how far along I am and I always answer in weeks to the response of confused faces. Like 30 weeks? what does that mean? It does sound silly sometimes but it means 10ish more weeks to go!

Never do I ever count other things in weeks but each week of pregnancy feels like such a milestone. So 30 weeks it is. 7 months.

Somehow I thought my stomach would be huge right now like in Juno. I definitely feel very big lots of the time. And lately on occasion I get up and realize that I am waddling! Crazy thing that sometimes can and can't be controlled.

The baby is hanging out low and I am measuring right where I should be. It was so fun yesterday to have my midwife feel my stomach and be able to tell me exactly where his head, bum, legs, and arms were positioned.

I'm so happy. I love pregnancy. I know I say it all the time but I think it is really amazing and something to be cherished. And boy do I plan on cherishing our little one come 8 or 10 or 12 more weeks.

Game night.

2010-03-22T16:25:00.007-07:00

Lately everyone is talking about the "big game (s)." It's fun, a bonding thing for people. Comparing those little bracket things.

But it is the same story during superbowl season and nba championships and well, gosh I don't even know what all the events are really called. We just are clueless. Ball sports and I do not have a very confident history.

Dashing Boy, bless his heart, shares this history with me. Put him on a mountain and he can ski or snowboard, hike or climb, bike or run with handsome beauty. But put him in a gathering of a bunch of guys talking about "the game" or plans for ward ball and poor Dashing Boy is out.

But you want to know a secret?

I love it. Because as the conversation goes in this direction, Dashing Boy makes a real effort to stay a part of things. I watched him the other night as he asked one of our friends to explain to him why someone was having to throw a free throw. And then he genuinely listened as our friend excitedly explained his bracket all out to him.

And goodness gracious my heart was melting. How is it that can be such a turn on?

I think because in its own way, it is confidence.

The other night we played board games at home and because my mind is all baby right now I decided during one of our favorite games (bananagrams) I would do a baby theme. Dashing Boy was winning big time. But then he saw how into the baby theme I was that he changed his words all around. And we had a great time reading what each other was coming up with.

We are clueless right now as to what it will be like to be parents. But also I think we are confident too. Which I'm ok with- clueless and confident. Because luckily, we have lots of all-stars around that we can turn to when we need advice.

I love you baby.

2010-03-19T08:04:00.004-07:00

Every morning I wake up and lay in bed for an extra ten minutes or so just so I can be still in total silence and feel my little baby move around.

I wake up and say "Good morning baby, I love you." And if Dashing Boy is still in bed (which he usually is not) sometimes he says I love you back. And I think how wonderful it is to have two different "babys" in my life.

My sister Juju is graduating this spring as an RN. She is going to be amazing.

Just the other day she said to me, "Jenny I honestly can't even imagine it, myself as an RN. I can't believe that I'm going to be one in just a few months." And I told her that was completely normal-that when something has been our focus and we've worked so hard at it for a big period of time, it is hard to grasp when suddenly it is almost here.

There are beautiful, exciting times when I can imagine myself as a mom, of course. But in general it is really hard for me to wrap my head around. The time is counting down, months are passing by, stomach growing. And soon I will have a baby. My baby.

I look at my breasts and think really? Really there will be milk flowing?

I walk by his room, becoming so bright and cheerful and think that soon his personality and brightness will fill it completely.

I dream of what he will look like (it is different every time) and I wake up and think with a rush of excitement, "Wow. I can't believe I am going to have a baby."

It is a wonderful cusp to be upon. One I am so, so grateful and awed by.

And so I'll keep imagining and daydreaming about our little family. Sometimes with painted daydreamed images, but mostly with abstract excitement and wonder. And love. Love for my baby laying next to me and love for our baby soon to be here on this earth with us.

Signs of Spring.

2010-03-16T11:35:00.007-07:00

I always know the seasons are changing from fall to winter and winter to spring when I can either 1:break out the puffy down coat or 2: break out the chacos/crocs.

Man I love my crocs. They are the perfect spring/summer shoe. They can get all kinds of messy and then you just hose them off.

I got that first persimmon pair a few years ago so I could wear them gardening and such and then I loved them so much I pretty much wore them everyday that summer and the summer thereafter. Now those ones really are exclusively gardening and painting shoes as they are quite worn.

I thought crocs were a bit strange, you know like who really wears them. But I will tell you, get a bright, feminine pair and I promise they will grow on you. (hmmm you'd think I worked for crocs or something but no, they are just happy shoes)

Breaking out the spring shoes makes me feel like singing Paulo Nutini's New Shoes and dancing all around. Like I am light on my feet.

So welcome Spring!

Other signs of this most lovely season:

Cupcake egg pot holder made by Grandma.

Quilted carrot table topper made by Grandma.

Spring bulbs!

Amoeba Pizza and Artisan Bread!

2010-03-11T21:46:00.001-07:00

Awhile back I had a lesson in artisan bread making. Finally, this week I put it to use!

I've been making a really big effort to be better about making meals every night. And as I've been planning and coming up with a system I thought: how easy dinners would be if we had fresh bread and salad as a fairly staple part of our meals each night.

This bread is a dream. Really, it is so much easier than I ever thought it would be.

So I do think the title: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day is really true. I think I just might have to buy the book now- or Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day. That one sounds very nice too.

Here is my first humble little loaf:

One thing I was very excited about with this bread dough is that is can also be used for pizza. I love to make homemade pizza but all the rising steps and such make it something that takes a bit of planning.

Well, I rolled out some of this dough one night, threw some toppings on it and baked it in the oven- and really it was some of the best homemade pizza dough we've had.

Dashing Boy said my pizza looked like an amoeba.
Which sounded so cool that I instantly got images of us having amoeba pizza nights with our children. We're such nerds.

Reupholstered Glider

2010-03-09T14:19:00.006-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Dashing Boy and I received a wonderful gift. A still-in-great condition Dutailier glider for our nursery. It is very nice to sit on and the only thing needing some udpdating were the cushions.

Well goodness me! after looking online for replacements I found that they were over $200 for our particular glider! And so I turned to the crafty people of the blogosphere and found this lovely blog and glider makeover- the same glider as ours!

Grandma and I have spent the last four days working on it!

Here is the before:
I searched all my favorite designers collections of home decorator fabric and really loved Amy Butlers August Fields Fresh Start fabric in seafoam. It is bright and gender neutral.

I was able to find it on etsy for half price so the total cost to reupholster this glider was under $40 including the extra fabric I have to do an ottoman too!

Here is the after:
Grandma is so talented and patient. She made sure we got all the beautiful little details right!

Each piece is removable so it can be washed easily. I am so excited about it. It looks happy in our baby's room.

Thank you grandma! I can't wait to rock and nurse our sweet baby in it. I know I'll be thinking of you often as I do!

Dainty Passion Fruit Macarons

2010-03-04T17:17:00.006-07:00

I had so much fun on my first batch of macarons that I decided I would give it another go. This time, joining on the Mactweets challenge: spring fling, where I was encouraged to let my favorite springtime flowers influence me in the kitchen!

Also influencing me in the making/naming of these cookies was the conversation I had with Dashing Boy a couple of nights before these were made...

Sometimes Dashing Boy talks in his sleep. It doesn't happen very often but when it does it is very entertaining and usually he says a bunch of jibberish and stuff that makes no sense at all.

On this particular night Dashing Boy had already been soundly asleep for over an hour, while I had just gotten to bed. Suddenly, I sneezed.

Dashing Boy sweetly leaned over to me and said,

"It's ok. It's more for sauces. It's not really meant for dainty things."

The remainder of the night and many moments the next day were spent laughing and laughing at such randomness.

And so these macarons are appropriately named "dainty." Because if there is anything meant to be dainty, I believe it would be a macaron.

When I think of spring and all of the colorful, fresh flowers that introduce it I think of happiness and the sun. The arrival of spring makes me feel alive.

Passion fruit- both the taste and the color make me feel happy and alive.

I was thrilled that I was able to find both passion fruit concentrate and passion fruit pulp at the Mexican market.

So first I whipped up a batch of milk chocolate passion fruit ganache- yum! Then I did my best to color the macarons the same vibrant color of delicious passion fruit.

I was pretty happy with how these turned out. But they were still lopsided- need to work on my piping technique! My biggest problem of all though was that on both batches I made half of the macaron tops cracked!

Next time I'm going to double up my baking sheets and see if that helps... Luckily macarons still taste good even when they don't look as dainty and cute!

Feeling hot hot hot.

2010-03-01T22:59:00.009-07:00

This last weekend Dashing Boy and I went on a date to the Mexican market.

We walked down every single aisle to our hearts content. It was a very exciting two hour date activity, and very educational.

The tomatillos were 3lbs for $1! A cute, nice man was filling a large bag full of them. He was being very discriminating in which tomatillos he was choosing, so I asked him how he knew which ones were good. I really need to continue learning Spanish.

He and Dashing Boy had a good conversation and we learned that he owned a roadside taco stand.

His valuable advice: Choose the greenest smaller tomatillos-they're sweeter. He even offered us his whole bag that he had just chosen (truly, about 10 min worth of choosing) And then he reached his hand into a barrel full of black beans and told me that they were a very good source of iron, good for being pregnant.

It was great.

And so today we made a Mexican meal complete with homemade Cafe Rio dressing jam-packed with tomatillos!

As I was washing the jalapeno for the dressing Dashing Boy said, "Jenny be really careful not to touch your eyes or face now!"

After which I promptly sliced the jalapeno and squirted myself directly in the eye with the hot juice.

Boy that stuff burns! Dashing Boy turned to google and we learned that I could flush my eye out with milk then flush the milk out with cold running water.

I used the 1/4 measuring cup (you know, for you to know just in case you squirt a jalapeno in your eye)- sealed it around my eye then blinked in it a bunch, looking quite lovely as milk dripped down my face and into the sink.

It was just a little too tempting for Dashing Boy who seized the opportunity to take some incriminating pictures of me.

It worked though! 10 minutes later and you would have never known I had done such a silly thing. And now there is a bunch of yummy dressing that I could drink I love it so much. I won't. But I want too.

Block of Bliss.

2010-02-27T14:30:00.007-07:00

I just purchased an 11lb block of chocolate and have another 11lb block on the way. I am crazy. But boy this big block makes me so happy:

Yum. I did this awhile back when I worked at a bakery and that chocolate faithfully lasted me a whole years worth of yummy truffles, mousses and other treats.

It is very dreamy.
I woke up this morning and couldn't help myself. There is already a batch of ganache cooling in the fridge!

So there you have it. I have yet to truly put my food storage supply together but I do have 22lbs (well 21.5 now:) of very good chocolate in case I need to barter one day.

Bump. 26 weeks.

2010-02-24T11:26:00.004-07:00

Yay! I can't believe we're at 26 weeks! Lately I've been bumping into things with my belly! My space perception of my own body is a bit off. I once worked at a wonderful bakery and my pregnant boss always had a large strip of flour across her stomach. It was awesome and now I can see how that can easily happen.

Here it is from the front. Dashing Boy laughs at me when I go in to hug him because my belly gets there before the rest of me.

I've been enjoying the second trimester. Our little guy has been moving around a lot and I love it. I feel so much love for him. I think I just might overflow with it when I get to meet him in a few months.

le French Macarons.

2010-02-22T11:42:00.009-07:00

Friday Evening I tried my hand at French macarons. These petite beauties are all the rage right now.

And so after trying one for the first time, reading the ingredients: egg whites, sugar, powdered sugar, and nut flour (I mean, really, how could anything not be delicious with those ingredients! nut flour as a base for anything is always so good), and being completely inspired by other women venturing into this baking art I decided to try it.

So I went to my go-to baking diva Cristie at The Table Runner. I had already studied her latest "mac" blog post, but had just a few questions before I began. I'm so glad I called her because she gave me tips such as:

Make sure your nut flour is very fine. (I ground my blanched almonds as fine as I could then ground them further once I added the powdered sugar).
Don't double the batch before you test it out a few times- different ovens vary in how they cook the macs and changes might need to be made in baking time/temperature for your particular oven.
Macs really do look better with some color and spunk. I was going to omit any coloring but they really do look fun and fancy with some.
Add a little flavor to the cookie in the middle of beating the eggs (this goes for color as well) I added 1 teaspoon almond extract.
Pipe the macs on parchment paper with a pattern underneath- this was extremely helpful as my macs would have been a wide assortment of overconfident sizes without the pattern (pull the pattern out before baking).
Add sprinkles or sanding sugar before baking.
The macs are done when they pull off easily from the parchment. If they are sticking at all they are not done yet.
Pipe instead of spread ganache and fillings as macs are pretty delicate.

I used this recipe on Passionate About Baking.

Cristie has even more tips on her blog post. She is in a group called Mac Tweets- a group of dedicated French macaron bakers. They have challenges and stuff and I kind of want to join!

Also very helpful was Bonnie's macaron post on City Home/ Country Home. She has some wonderful pictures of the process.

All in all I'm very happy with the end result of my macs. They were a bit lopsided but they did have some "feet" (the ruffle on the bottom) which made me happy. I filled mine with a milk chocolate ganache.

Dashing Boy ate a bazillion of them and said they were the best. In fact, he almost made himself sick he ate them so fast. I'll definitely be making these again!

Mini Dress.

2010-02-19T18:27:00.008-07:00

My latest sewing projects have been some fun little dresses using Amy Butler's Mini Dress Tunic & Tops pattern. Here is my review :)

For some reason I kind of felt like the girl on Enchanted making them, especially during ironing. (you know, singing and making dresses out of curtains and such.) It's really fun seeing a dress or project come together, it makes me want to sing!

This dress is not a maternity dress. But it works very nicely as one too. I just made it in my regular size and because the front has some pretty folding it can expand.

This pattern was fairly easy to follow. I didn't make any real changes except in the length. Originally I wanted to make the "long top length" but I cut it out in the "tunic length" so I could have some control over the exact length when I hemmed.

I"m glad I did because I think the long top would have been a bit awkward of a length on me.

Here it is in the tunic length. I think it will be fun this summer with some capris:

The first time I used this pattern I made it in the dress length + 4 inches. (Again knowing I could hem it as much as I liked in the end.) The longer length turned out to be perfect! This dress is a favorite of mine now!

So there it is. I have some more fun fabric waiting for projects. I'm debating whether I should make another of this top or try something new? hmmm...

fleece-nesting.

2010-02-16T17:31:00.009-07:00

This weekend I made my first baby clothes purchase.

I walked in to Patagonia and let my heart melt imagining our little guy in all kinds of cute fleeciness.

melt and melt.

Hopefully I got the potential sizes right.

At 40% off the lowest price I got a $100 coat for $23! And that lil' vest is so darn cute.

It was exciting and a bit indulgent shopping for the baby.

Mom has been telling us that she thinks our baby will be born wearing a hat. She's convinced that we'll have him in one the majority of the time. This is because Dashing Boy is a hat-wearing guy, he almost always has one on in the winter. And my hat wearing has increased exponentially since I've been with him. Mom gets a kick out of how were usually in hats when she sees us.

So she has contributed two hats already to the baby's stash.

After seeing the latest I think she's right!- that is if he will keep it on his head!

(Thank you everyone for your nice comments on my last post. They were so nice.)

I have a confession.

2010-02-12T14:53:00.005-07:00

I am scared to be a mom.

I hope I am a good mother. That's what I am thinking about lately.

I am so excited to have a baby. So excited to be a mother soon. I can't believe it! I am so amazed.

And I am so emotional.

Lately, I find myself crying (or feeling like I have just been crying) often. I'm feeling a bit nervous to be a mom. Is this normal? I sure hope it is.

I love this baby so much. And I want to be such a good mother to him.

My mom told me this morning that the only time you don't worry about your child is when you are making him. And then from that point on, the moment you know he is there- you are worrying.

It's good- very good to know, that I am not doing this on my own. I am so grateful for Dashing Boy, my mom, family, friends and most of all The Saviour, who helps me in times of worry and who has the ability to cast out fear and turn it to faith. What a blessing that is!

Bond.

2010-02-10T10:12:00.007-07:00

Yesterday morning I woke up to something so nice.

Dashing Boy was laying next to me and as I turned to greet him for the day he said, "I've been feeling the baby move."

"Really?" I said. I couldn't believe it!

Feeling the baby move is my favorite part of everyday. It's amazing to imagine this person there, growing and developing that I get to carry with me everywhere right now.

During moments where Dashing Boy and I are sitting next to each other and the baby is moving, I always reach for Dashing Boy's hand. I love feeling our son move and connecting with him, and I want "dad" to be able to have that time with his son too.

And then we all lay there, connected to each other and loving each other.

I have lots of moments where it is just baby and me.

So when I woke up and heard Dashing Boy talk about his time with baby that morning it made me smile. I can't believe how deeply I am sleeping despite getting up multiple times every night and having the most bizarre dreams I have ever had. While I was sound asleep, Dashing Boy had his bonding time too-just baby and him.

It's so fun to get to know this little guy.

The Photographic Display of Nine Pictures.

2010-02-08T20:44:00.009-07:00

Over a year ago when I went crazy with home organization in our apartment I purchased a book. Real Simple: The Organized Home.

I used this book for all sorts of inspiration and carried it with me everywhere. Somehow, just seeing a bunch of pictures of clean, tidy spaces made me feel relaxed.

I see something that has a lot of order and I audibly sigh and think to myself, "my that is beautiful." Similar perhaps to how one might feel when seeing a beautiful picture of nature. I love those too, but seeing a picture of a purposeful organized space (or better yet having one in my home--that stays realtively intact) and I'm a happy girl.

There is a picture in this book of a wall photo collage. It is so orderly, square in shape, neatly positioned behind the dining room table. As soon as I saw the dining room wall in our home, before we moved even, I had visions of creating a photo collage wall of my own.

When I get excited about something I tend to share the story or vision or whatever multiple times to the people I love.

Well, I must have been really excited about this because I think I mentioned it to my poor mom every time she came over to my house (and quite possibly other times as well). So much so that she began to tease me about it often.

That blank wall was quite the joke, "and on it, I am going to do a square photo collage."

So finally I did it. Just in time for Dashing Boy's 30th birthday party.

I wanted to make my mom proud and I knew she would get a kick out of seeing it actually carried out.

Mom is wonderful. She is my best friend. She is the best at teasing me and getting me to relax and she knows just how to love me and make me feel special. I love you mom!

Mom left this very kind and nice comment on my blog at new years. She is so funny and nice. She slyly added my photo wall as an accomplishment for the last year. Can you spot her wit?

"what a nice post! i am so proud of you for so many things! this has been quite the year for you! as you have eaten your salads ( to name a few accomplishments) you have bought your first house, painted your whole house, planted your first gardens of vegetables and flowers, made your first quilt, arranged a great photographic display of 9 pictures, cooked great food...love, mom"

Only mom's can make you feel so good and valued like that. I hope I can be as good of mom as she is. I wonder if my children will ever make me listen to them excitedly discuss the same thing over and over as mom has had to listen to me.

Now that the collage is up there I have visions of changing the pictures out every so often as the years go by.

(frames were purchases at Micheals for $2.99 each!)

Laughter Makes the Day.

2010-02-04T09:49:00.009-07:00

Every day Dashing Boy and I spend a good amount of time laughing our heads off together.

I love it.

I have a bit of a lame sense of humor. Like yesterday Dashing Boy was reading something and he said "nevaw" instead of "never" on accident. And the other day while reading something he read "We are a step-TEE-ahm," when it really said "We are a stepteam." (He had just been speaking Spanish earlier so perhaps that is why?)

Anyway things like that make me laugh and laugh. I am giggling away even as I type this. Silly Jenny, and her lame sense of humor.

Laughter is a tried and true mechanism that Dashing Boy experiences in lots of situations. He just can't help it. I have seen it happen many, many times in both appropriate and awkward situations.

Always I end up in laughter too, especially as his laughs become increasingly higher pitched and uncontrollable. (also when he's tired- those are the jackpot laughs).

Pregnancy has provided no shortage of these moments.

Like: a few random emotional moments for me. These include tears over mostly nothing. While I am crying, Dashing Boy is laughing. He is still trying to be sensitive with me, but the laughter is what overwhelmingly comes out. Then I am cry-laughing.

The other day when I left for my pregnant women water aerobics class he started laughing as I was heading out the door. "Why are you laughing at me?" I asked him.

"I just think it's fun to imagine you at water aerobics with a bunch of other pregnant women!" he said. It is pretty funny- that class.

One day I was in the bathroom looking at my changing stomach excitedly chatting away to him and pointing out some new developments-- and his facial expression looked a bit horrified (Dashing Boy says "baffled")- shock at how much my stomach had grown in a short amount of time. And then we were both laughing so hard and I was telling him that he better hide his bewildered facial expressions during birth because then it might not be funny.

It's good to laugh with each other.

I think I could use even more laughter everyday, so I've started writing down funny quotes from Dashing Boy and things that have happened.

I look at it often and laugh and laugh.

And so if anyone has lame humor like me here is a recent one for you to laugh at today (provided with Dashing Boy's approval):

Dinner prayer offered by a very hungry Dashing Boy

Dashing Boy: (begins prayer) "In the name of ..."

Me: (laughter bursting out but trying very hard to hold it in and be reverent).

Hungry Boy: (does not think it is funny) "oh never mind."

We have been laughing about this one for days now.

Velvet Crash

2010-02-01T13:15:00.006-07:00

(Crushed Velvet Boots by Burton)

On Saturday morning Dashing Boy went snowboarding.

And I went (well, was going) to go see a silly girly movie with mom.

Dashing Boy is so hot on his snowboard and skis. He is so natural. I love to watch him. He's been doing it since he was four.

He can really exude "cool" pretty effortlessly in this environment. (While I mostly look pretty dorky). Dashing Boy can even exude cool in his new pink velvet boots (a la steepandcheap) that I have been making fun of all week. He pulled them out of the box and I started laughing- the velvet, the kiss- they are pretty funny looking don't you think?

But Dashing Boy said they got excellent reviews, and he is one that most definitely cares much more about function over image. And sure enough, he put those things on with his snowboarding gear- and cool. That's just what he was.

These new boots were quite magical for Dashing Boy. They felt really solid and nice, he said. And so he was having a grand ol' time in them and his confidence was running high.

And then Dashing Boy went over a roller. This is how he tells it: He went on the roller, flew way higher and longer in the air than he anticipated and freaked out midair and sat down.

He landed very hard on his bum.

very hard.

He laid in the snow with his back killing him, wheezing, unable to get his breath. His family found him a bit later. Ski patrol arrived. And he was placed on a board and taken off the mountain.

I found out about it when Dashing Boy was still in the snow. I was frantically calling his family to find out how he was doing. He could move everything, they said, but he was shaking, couldn't breath very well, and hadn't moved much on the board for 45 minutes.

In a situation such as this, the best protocol when there is a possible back injury is to not risk it. Everyone agreed it was most wise to send Dashing Boy down the canyon on the board. Which meant he would have to go in an ambulance.

I waited at the base of the canyon, nervous as could be and wishing I could just be with him so bad.

So I parked the car in the most strategic position possible for quick exit and as soon as that ambulance came out of the canyon I was following it, not going to let it out of my sight.

And then I followed the wrong ambulance to the wrong hospital.

Finally, I made it to the correct one, found Dashing Boy and breathed a sigh of relief. His breathing was getting better, he could move his toes, kiss, and smile and joke like usual.

An x-ray and a good four hours later and we could go home. Both of us feeling so grateful, happy and relieved.

Dashing Boy's back bruised and worse for the wear, body stiff, but still looking pretty cool in the remainders of his snow get-up.

Now we just need to go retrieve those boots.

Cutie Booties

2010-01-29T12:28:00.005-07:00

I just completed my first baby project!

Grandma and I were at the fabric store the other day when we spotted Amy Butler's Little Stitches For Little Ones. It is full of cute little baby things to make. And it has a nice selection of both boy and girl things, which is wonderful because so so many cute designs these days are exclusively geared to the girlies.

I fell in love with these little booties the moment I saw them.

Here is my review of the cutie booties pattern:

it took about as long to cut out all the pieces as it did to sew!
the next time I make these I am going to place the velcro (the female piece)further away from the edge--the ankles seem really small. Moving the velcro will allow for more adjusting room on baby.
I had to ask Dashing Boy and google which piece of velcro was male and which was female. Now it seems obvious, go figure :) but I admit I was confused on this one!
the sole lining is sewn by hand and after sewing mine in I realized it was a bit bulkier than I intended. Next time I'm going to cut the fusible fleece on the sole lining even smaller so there is less bulk.
they are very cute and tiny! I sewed size 0-3 months.

I think I'll be making more of these with a few alterations. I also want to try out Heather Bailey's bitty booties and cloth baby shoes by Stardust Shoes.

Baby Bump.

2010-01-26T13:58:00.008-07:00

(22 weeks)

Sometimes I look in the mirror and I can't believe it is me. Me with a pregnant belly.

You know how they say men think about you-know-what every 8 seconds or something crazy like that? (this of course, is not truly true) Well, pretty much that is how often I am thinking about the baby.

And yet it still takes me be surprise when I see myself sometimes. It is just so amazing, the miracle of life. I continue to be enthralled and humbled by it. I hope I always will be.

I am so happy to be pregnant. I think the faint linea nigra forming on my belly is awesome. Come stretch marks or less perk, I am in love.

Craving My Husband.

2010-01-23T13:10:00.007-07:00

This last week I was all by my lonesome as Dashing Boy was out of town for business.

I cried like a baby when he left. cried and cried. Pregnancy-related?... I don't know, but I hated having him away. I love him so.

Before he left, even before he knew he was going, we laid in bed talking one night. "I want I Hos," I said to him (one of our favorite restaurants in Montana). "I want I Hos so bad," I said. We fell asleep as we joked about traveling there just for some Korean food.

Perhaps it was a pregnancy craving? I don't know... are those really real? Dashing Boy has been dutifully waiting for such cravings to occur. I have seen him laugh his head off at the watermelon and chop suey scene in Lady and the Tramp.

Needless to say when Dashing Boy headed in that direction this last week I did mention our favorite little eatery.

How on earth that food would travel I had no idea. But even if he could go eat there while he was there-- well one of us would be enjoying such yumminess.

Dashing Boy came home with I Hos in his suitcase. Which was very bold and brave because it isn't exactly a pancake or something. I Hos has the potential to saturate into every crease and cranny inside checked baggage.

I asked Dashing Boy why he didn't carry it on. He said, "That stuff smelled so bad."

He had gotten it all prepared in his suitcase- extra measures by putting it in a rubbermaid container and bagging it up. Then he said he stuck his entire suitcase in the refrigerator so in the early morning he wouldn't forget to bring it.

This man makes me smile every day. He is such a dream.

Also brought home: chocolate. oh dreamy dreamy chocolate.

I tell you what, it was like Christmas morning.

with most of all Dashing Boy's return to home as the most wonderful thing to wake up to.

My name is Jenny and I am a bread snob.

2010-01-22T20:45:00.006-07:00

I don't think there could be anything cooler than learning how to make bread like this:

Isn't it exciting! What a beauty! I was lucky enough today to take a wonderful class in artisan bread baking by my good friend Cristie at The Table Runner ( a great resource for finely tested and tuned recipes if I do say so myself).

Cristie is my go to person on baked goods. I have called her many a time with questions- knowing I can not go wrong if I follow her advice.

This past year she has perfected her art of artisan bread making- something I've wanted to learn very much how to do (We Love artisan bread in this house) but that has just seemed very daunting.

Well, fear not. Cristie showed me that it can be done easily (and with a little practice, maybe even with some grace like her).

She uses the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. And really it seemed like the title might really be true.

I'm very excited about it and am going to be experimenting with it this next little while.

Because things like artisan bread make me happy.

And lets face it, I'm a bread snob.

In college I worked at the heavenly Crumb Brothers Artisan Bread where we most definitely lived off the fresh bread I brought home everyday. I even started to get snobby about bread that was more than two days old. (Now that I'm not so spoiled I savor every last bite of an artisan bread loaf if it manages to last longer than two days!)

After college we even had a separate budget category for artisan bread for a spell just so we could have it every week.

But being able to make it myself? At home?

Very cool indeed.

Especially after being in company like this:

A Global Prayer.

2010-01-18T17:14:00.011-07:00

I have been wanting to write something about Haiti now for a few days. It has been weighing heavy on my heart.

Natalie at The Bobby Pin summed up well how I am feeling about it all. "The story depresses me. The bodies unnerve me and I turn on Friends. Then I feel guilt for doing so."

The day after the earthquake I wrote about cheese on a stick. Really important stuff.

But I am thinking about it often and keeping the people of Haiti in my prayers. I can hardly turn on the tv without crying.

At church on Sunday the people of Haiti were in everyone's prayers. In Relief Society our instructor said that if she started to talk about it, she would be standing in front of everyone crying. She said it already with a choke in her voice.

An image that particularly hit me (among many), were those of a group of Haitians in Miami desperately clutching photos of their loved ones, lost in Haiti, wanting to get their picture out there. People being so brave in such a heartwrenching situation.

Family is the most important thing in the entire world. That love is such a fundamental part of all of us the world over.

I am so grateful for my family. I am going to hold them close, and keep sending my prayers out there with the rest of the world.

His and Hers: Books on Pregnancy

2010-01-16T11:27:00.005-07:00

Yesterday Dashing Boy and I went out on a much needed date. After dinner, shopping, and some ice cream we ended up at the bookstore. Bookstores make wonderful date spots.

We left with these books:

I've been wanting to get my hands on Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth for quite some time. I'm so excited about Ina May. Two years ago when The Business of Being Born came out, I learned about her for the first time. She is amazing. Now that I am feeling like childbirth is something I can focus on I am ready to jump right in to her book. I started it this morning, and so far love it.

Dashing Boy is by no means a caveman. But as I was sitting in the middle of the aisle looking through all kinds of pregnancy books my eye caught The Caveman's Pregnancy Companion. I got it off the shelf and handed it to him, very jokingly seriously.

This one is for you, I said with a silly smile.

A few minutes later Dashing Boy was laughing away at pictures like this:

And he said it actually looked like a good, albeit silly, book. And then he said he wanted to evolve from a caveman to a fully supportive pregnancy companion :)

Which he already is, I mean, he already knew who Ina May was, but it's pretty dang cute to catch him reading it.

Two sweet, cheap indulgences.

2010-01-14T17:36:00.014-07:00

Today I am going to talk about two sweet, cheap indulgences. Things that are a rare treat.

Indulgence #1 I am trying to learn how to make myself: doughnuts

For a very long time I have been eying the beautifully crafted doughnuts in the King Arthur Catalog. My goodness I love that catalog. I pretty much read it (yes read! all the little product descriptions) cover to cover every time I get one in the mail.

This Christmas my inlaws gave me a mini doughnut pan and some other fun things from King Arthur itself! It was very exciting. We made doughnuts that very day! And then a week later I made them again.

Then when we arrived babysitting, upon learning that I loved to bake the 12-year-old excitedly asked me, "Can we make doughnuts?!!! I've always wanted to make doughnuts!"

Why! Yes we can!

They are so cute. And even though they are smothered in cinnamon sugar and chocolate glaze, they are baked not fried, and mini. So, you know, they're better for you too.

The overall consensus was: the chocolate frosted are cutest, but cinnamon sugar are yummiest. Dashing Boy said the frosted needed a better ratio of chocolate to doughnut so I fully submerged a few in the chocolate and then those became his favorite!

(I used this doughnut recipe, only I used 2 T melted butter instead of the shortening. For the cinnamon sugar doughnuts I melted butter and basted a bit on the doughnut then dropped it in a bowl of cinnamon sugar and covered it! and for the chocolate I used this recipe. I liked both recipes but would love to try others- Does anybody have any good ones?)

After being so healthy :) and enjoying all these doughnuts, I bring you to indulgence #2. My most favorite guilty pleasure. This one I did not, nor would I ever attempt to do on my own, it just wouldn't be the same.

that is: Cheese On A Stick from Hot Dog On A Stick.

Oh boy do I love this place. The hats. The freshly, funny-pumped lemonade. The gooey american cheese (which grosses me out, except strangely at this one place).

As children Juju and I followed my mom around on long shopping mall trips with minimal (right mom?) complaints with the promise that we could each get a cheese on a stick at the end. Then mom would get a large lemonade and we would all split it-ohhhhhhhh so good! Even now, still, when Juju and I go shopping together we treat ourselves to this.

So upon learning that the (hot dog loving) children we were watching had never tried cheese on a stick I decided I should share the magic of such a place with them.

Only I think I enjoyed it most of all!

What are you sweet, cheap indulgences?

It's a...

2010-01-12T09:45:00.004-07:00

Sweet baby

BOY!

we are very excited and love you so much!

here is one of my faves (from a little bit back)

just hanging out.

you keep doing that.

and then we can hang out together

and I can kiss those little legs.

You Got it Dude!

2010-01-08T11:34:00.003-07:00

Lately I'm finding myself thinking about time in ways that bring me back to my childhood.

Because if I think about it in terms of hours, days, weeks, and months things feel far away.

A lot of it, I think has to do with my pregnancy. I can't wait to reach certain milestones.

So I've been thinking about time in terms of actual events going on in my life, that sound shorter when grouped in such a way.

For example: when I was a child if we were going to do something fun that day but it was still an hour and a half away, it sounded a lot more manageable if I thought of it in terms of three episodes-of-Full-House away.

It is not that I am waiting for time to pass me by, I'm just excited, and sometimes nervous and all sorts of things and this method helps me feel a little more solid.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were wonderful for this. Time flew by very quickly with the holidays. And before I knew it I was into my second trimester and starting to feel the baby move. Something that in the beginning seemed so far away, and that I was so excited for but couldn't quite hold on to yet.

I am now in my next little time phase event- this babysitting gig- 9 days worth of time. It's been lots of fun and lots of work. Now we have fun weekend activities coming up.

And then, in a few days we will be back in our home and then we get to see our baby at the 20 week ultrasound!

And then, well this is very exciting- American Idol starts! woooohooooo! I gleefully looked forward to American Idol night every week last year! (my family goes crazy with wonderful parties every week).

so on and so on.

It's silly. But it's fun.

Oops.

2010-01-06T12:19:00.004-07:00

This week Dashing Boy and I are watching a family of four children.

It is being quite the adventure.

It's fun and also hilarious to see how we each handle different situations.

Each day I feel a few success! moments (like during and after helping the children with homework and watching them learn, or successfully making nice dinners for everyone, or having a good conversation with one of them) and also each day I feel a few fail! ones too (Like realizing that one "parenting technique" might work really well for one child but not at all with another.)

Just now I had a fail. But it's kind of funny so perhaps it's a success in its own way.

***

This morning I was trying to be a dutiful wife, so as Dashing Boy was heading out the door I gave him some homemade fettucini sauce leftovers so he wouldn't have to worry about lunch today.

The little toddler has been LOVING this sauce for lunch so I scooped a bit out for her too.

At lunch I got the little girl's noodles all ready and began to feed her. She excitedly ate the first bite, knowing what to expect. Then, she reluctantly ate two more. After bite four she began to cry.

So I talked in a sweet baby voice encouraging her to eat more (I mean she devoured this stuff the other day!) She shook her head, moaning, then gave me an expression that broke my heart. So I fed her some of that delicious baby yogurt instead.

I was very perplexed as to why she so didn't like her noodles today.

Dashing Boy just called to tell me not to give the sauce to the little girl. "It isn't alfredo sauce," he said. "It's frosting."

Which doesn't sound all that bad. But it must not have been great because Dashing Boy was at home, rinsing off his noodles.

Which made me laugh even harder.

Meal= Fail. Dutiful wife success= Fail. Good laugh with myself and also with husband= Success!

I'll take it.

A la natural.

2010-01-04T20:14:00.005-07:00

When I was in college, just after we were married, I got my hands on one very intriguing book.

In it were pages full of gloriously naked women in the throws of childbirth.

I looked through all the pages, fascinated and full of questions (why did everyone's breasts look so strange? why didn't anybody want to wear a shirt? lots of other questions)

My friend Mrs. Olsen had lent this book to me, and I kept it for an embarrassingly long amount of time.

Even then, when the answer to the question of when I wanted to start a family (which by the way is a horrible casual question) was a "5 years down the road" sort of thing, I was drawn to conversations, books and information about natural childbirth.

Now that I am here, after researching all the different birth options in my area and meeting with some different (all great) practitioners, I feel most comfortable with and have chosen to work with:

a wonderful Certified Nurse Midwife in an out of hospital setting ~ (a lovely birth suite).

She is great, a perfect fit for me.

She has eased my worries many times, is a phone call away. Her office is warm. She has spent over two hours at every appointment Dashing Boy and I have had with her, explaining different things I had never heard about, answering all kinds of questions, giving me hugs and positivity.

She has a great record, her record speaks for itself.

And most importantly Dashing Boy and I feel comfortable and well taken care of in her care.

Unless I become high-risk, I am birthing with her in her amazing place where absolutely no epidural is available :)

I now have five months (I'm due the beginning of June) to prepare myself (as much as I can) for such an experience :)

This years resolutions:

2010-01-02T14:56:00.003-07:00

Keeping it simple...

1. Read the scriptures and have family home evening every week.

2. Make better meals at home, like come up with different menus I can fall back on each week.

3. Spend time each month visiting with my grandmas and others I love in my life.

4. Continue eating my salad everyday :) (but with a lot less documentation).

5. Be a little easier on myself about how I'm doing in all the areas of my life :)

two-thousand-and-ten (as my mom would like it to be called-- not twenty-ten) Here I come!

A Year of Salad! In Review

2009-12-31T13:06:00.008-07:00

Wow! I can not believe my year of salad is complete!

It's silly, but when I look back at all my salad weeks for the year some salads really stick out to me. Some were very memorable- because they were delicious or because of what was going on in my life at the time, or the time of year.

And then the rest all blur into one big salad mess that leads me to believe I am crazy. I mean that is A LOT of salad man.

Looking back, I must admit I feel a bit fond of and sentimental about my little goal.

So I am going to start at the beginning. January 1st 2009.

Deciding to go for the leafy greens: Most of all I chose this goal to be healthier. I wondered how I would feel a year later if I actually completed such a goal. Would my body feel different?

Also, as mentioned previously, Dashing Boy and I had been trying to start our family. And I was thinking about what I could do within my own body to make me healthiest for that to occur.

I wanted a tangible goal-- something I could control that would have a positive outcome on my life. Something that would make me a healthier person. That would be mine to be proud of.

And also, I thought as a vegetarian, "shouldn't I pretty much be eating a salad everyday already?"

And so week 1 began.

In the beginning the salads were awesome. I was on Fi-yah!
And of course early on, I had to include the goodness that is Cafe Rio. In total for the year I ate 8 Cafe Rio salads and 5 Cafe Rio impostors. Also, I did go there just to buy the dressing once too!
By April and May I was learning how to sew and spending lots of time with Grandma and Juju going to fabric stores and eating at our favorite Zuppas.

Then, the beginning of June I took a favorite, fabulous picture of Dashing Boy carrying a giant salad out to a potluck with friends. I could easily recall this salad, as we found out right after we got home from the potluck that we were pregnant!

By the end of June I was enjoying fresh, summer salads like this one from my mom's garden. And we were planting late tomatoes for salads in our new house!
And then in the middle of July it happened. I simply forgot to eat a salad. All in all, I awoke three mornings to the shocking realization that I had forgotten my greens the day before. The end of July and heartbreaking news. Mom came over and saved my life the day I miscarried. I was a mess. Many many tears, but a ray of sunshine in my mother who did all her magic, made me this salad and got me to laugh a few times that day too.

The title for salad post that week: You Just Smile.

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

It was all I could do to pull myself out of bed the next little while. One day, in particular, was overwhelmingly difficult. I was crying, again, my hardest, deepest, empty, sad tears. A heap on the bed. Poor Dashing Boy didn't know what to do. And then I heard a close friend enter my house. She started walking up the stairs and I just sat there in my heap, unable to compose myself.

She walked in, looked at me lovingly, gave me a long hug, then sat on the edge of my bed and said "I'm here to make you dinner tonight." Neither Dashing Boy nor I knew she was coming, she just did it. She was amazing, and sweetly reminded me of the loving hand God has in my life.

She made grilled fish over a bed of spinach with homemade mango salsa.
By August, the Farmers Market was in full-swing. One of my favorite summer places to be. Mom loves this little booth that sells the most amazing organic salads in the world complete with homemade organic pates and raw organic crackers. This just might be my favorite salad of the year!
Late September and the bounty of our heirloom tomatoes were now a daily part of our salads. But as excited as we were about our ripe, homegrown tomatoes, something else made us even moreso: we were pregnant again! Hope and gratitude filled our souls.

For about two weeks I was a ravenous woman. And then my salads became very pathetic as almost everything sounded, smelled, and tasted yucky. Dressing on my salad especially put it over the top, so limes and lemons stepped in.
Then, by the end of October we got the swine flu and my salads went from very pathetic to very very pathetic.
It went that way for several weeks. With a few nights of 11:00 salads in the mix (which happened a couple of times over the year) as I realized at bedtime that I had forgotten my salad that day.

Those salads were always really classy.
I made a little goal to be eating fancier salads by Thanksgiving time. Fancy it was! A friend brought a divine salad with homemade roasted red pepper dressing to the big meal! Yum! One month later, and Christmas was here, so near to the end. I was in heaven eating my aunts delicious salad and spread of homemade dressings! What a treat! Creamy grapefruit dressing! very amazing.

And now day 365, my 362nd salad of the year: all eaten up. Hooray!
What will I do now?

I suppose I will eat more salad.

Do I feel healthier? YES!!! very much so.

Has it helped my body by healthier for a baby? I like to think so :) At my last appointment I had some regular, extensive blood testing done to check my levels on all sorts of things. My midwife was especially amazed with my iron level. She said pregnant women and vegetarians especially have a a hard time keeping their iron level up and mine was a very nice healthy high level. Guess what a good source of iron is: Dark green leafy vegetables!

Does my body feel different? Yes! I can honestly say after one year of a salad everyday, my body craves it. Seriously, it has become my most favorite part of a meal. I wouldn't have expected that but it's true.

If I forget to eat my salad one day will I be eating it at 11:00 pm? probably not :) But if I find myself laxing too much I would start documenting it again and holding myself responsible!

Would I recommend a year of salad goal? YES! Really, its been fun. And it isn't as hard as it may seem! You can do it!

Plus it makes dinner easier, always having a given in the equation of what to eat :)

Complete!

2009-12-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

A Family Heart.

2009-12-29T10:17:00.006-07:00

Over a year ago, after a much thought out season, we decided it was time to start our family. The decision had been looming for quite some time. It sat, unspoken for many months, present as it became more and more obvious it was time to take a step in its direction.

I, in particular, wanted to make sure I was ready for something so life-changing. This decision is so personal, so deep-running. It opens you up.

And so when I was ready (with only just the tiniest fraction of hesitancy left) to make it, I felt READY. I wanted to be a mother. It was so obvious. The desire ran through my core- not the youthful hunger-for-a-baby desire-- it was the I want to be-a-mother-to-children desire, to care for them and teach them and watch them grow.

And suddenly, even if we were to conceive that very first month, nine months seemed like an agonizing amount of time to have to wait. Waiting is hard when your heart feels ready.

I don't know why some people get pregnant right away, some accidentally in tough situations, and others so ready- who will be the most wonderful, loving parents must wait different, hard lengths of time.

But I do know this, a baby is always a blessing. Always. And that knowledge, despite how long or unexpected the road is to achieving a family, blesses those who are on the journey. God blesses those with a mother heart and a father heart.

I have felt that this year in some of my hardest, heartbroken moments.

And now, as I have felt (well, I think I have anyway) the first tiny little flutters and movements of the baby growing inside me, I am deeply, deeply humbled.

We are with child.

A beautiful child that fills my heart with joy. That I love already so much.

I am so excited.

And grateful for my mother heart that has been with me all along.

Almost There!

2009-12-27T13:08:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T14:27:00.003-07:00

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday full of happiness, peace, and time spent with loved ones!

I'm Strong to the Finish, Cause I Eats Me Spinach!

2009-12-20T13:05:00.002-07:00

Vanilla Beans and Other Things.

2009-12-18T16:46:00.010-07:00

I finally got to making this holiday's vanilla bean caramels. Yay! I'm so excited about it. and I can't stop eating them. But really, don't be fooled! I only appear (if that is even the case :) to have things together this Christmas.

I'm feeling a bit slow to get on top of things this year. I think I was so proud of myself for decorating our house and having a birthday party for Dashing Boy that I must have given myself a free pass to be a slacker.

Today I tried to pull it together a bit. Because, you know, Christmas Eve is a mere six days away.

I finally mailed out some Christmas cards (if you would like one e-mail me jenny@simplelifelove.com) and got to getting these caramels ready to give out.

Hopefully they'll get there by Christmas :)

Husbands Say The Darndest Things

2009-12-16T20:34:00.003-07:00

"Did you know I'm learning how to yodel?" Dashing Boy just asked me tonight.

"No, I didn't," I responded.

"Yes, I was just talking to my grandma and she said her family was from Switzerland and all her brothers knew how to yodel but no one in this generation does. So I want to carry on the tradition."

He has taken lesson one.

Man, I love my accordion-playing yodel-learning husband.

Maybe I'll even join him and we can learn a little yodel duet :)

Why didn't I think of that?

2009-12-15T14:03:00.006-07:00

Today I'm watching my friend's cute little girl and I asked Dashing Boy if he could watch for a second while I took a quick shower. This is what I heard as soon as I stepped out of the shower and found when I came back downstairs:

Dashing Boy walking around the room playing an animated set on the accordion and a little girl giggling her heart out. It was awesome.

Even more so was Dashing Boy's proud exclamation, "It's so great! I can practice and watch her at the same time!"

50 Nifty Weeks of Salad

2009-12-13T13:02:00.002-07:00

Thank you Hallmark.

2009-12-11T14:38:00.004-07:00

Do you want to know one of my favorite parts about the holiday season?

Well any season actually, but especially the holidays?

Cheesy movies. Hallmark especially. Made-for-tv-movies, those ones are the best.

Yesterday mom and I were at the store and she picked up Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's, To Grandmothers House We Go, circa 1992. "Remember this? she said You and Juju loved this movie."

Oh yes we did. LOVED it.

Later on in the afternoon I got a call from my cousin K. "We're having a Hallmark party tonight!" Juju has been diligently recording all the holiday movies on the Hallmark channel and she had found a particularly good one, Mrs. Miracle.

My favorite part about watching these movies is watching K and Juju watch them. It's wonderful. K smiles and smiles during the cheesiest parts of all and makes exclamations such as, "I love her! I love this movie! Ahhhh...!" and Juju gets the giggles during certain scenes and rewinds them to watch over again.

It makes the holidays so fun.

Anyone else a fan of the made-for-tv cheese?

Homemade Fancy, pt 3

2009-12-07T13:45:00.010-07:00

HOMEMADE FANCY 2009
f a b r i c p i n w h e e l s

This project is my very most favorite of all. I keep walking downstairs to stare and smile at these fabric pinwheels. Easy and fun to make, they add a sense of cheer and whimsical to the room!

I found this project on fabulous Portobellopixie under the "free projects" sidebar. Here is the tutorial.

This what the finished project looks like:

Sandi Henderson's directions were super easy to follow. I didn't have the spray adhesive suggested in the directions so I used some fabric glue that I had. Also I used regular scissors.

I was really loving this color combination! And the snowflake button is so fun! A while back I bought a bag of mixed buttons at Michaels. Some of the buttons are pretty funny, but I use them a lot in crafts!

The pinwheels are hung from the ceiling in different clusters. I used bakers twine and thumbtacks to do the job! To attach the bakers twine onto the pinwheels I used scraps of fabric and glued the twine underneath them with a gluegun.

I made a bunch of random sizes of pinwheels- the largest being 12x12 and smallest 5x5. I think the small ones are pretty cute!

This project was pretty inexpensive! I had some scraps of fabric already that I used and I also used purchased one yard of fabric for this project. Total, for the amount of pinwheels I made, I used no more than 1 1/2 yards of fabric. The total cost for this project: 2 posterboards $1 + $6 fabric = $7 total! (I had the twine and and buttons already but you can find them at really inexpensive prices-just use a coupon!)

Yay! I think I might even want to leave these up after the holidays are over!

Litehouse Ranch Dressing, I love you.

2009-12-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

Homemade Fancy, pt 2

2009-12-04T17:29:00.008-07:00

HOMEMADE FANCY 2009!
presents: dollar store inspiration
These two little projects are semi-homemade and add a fun little spark to the room.

First: I wanted to add a touch of something to my living room centerpiece. I have a large, wonderful quilt hanging that my grandma made for me. So I decided what it needed was some garlands. These worked very well with this set up, but they could look fun and festive in many different places.

Here is what it looked like when I was finished:

For this project I simply purchased two white ball garlands from Joann's. They were on sale two for $5.99. Next, I went to the dollar store and found some lovely jingle bells: nine for $1.

The bells came with golden twine to tie them with. So I tied them on the garland.

Simple and festive. Total cost per garland $4. Not too shabby.

Next, well this project isn't really homemade at all but it's too fun. I was looking for a table centerpiece and I remembered that at Belle's house they had a large glass bowl in the center of their table and for every holiday Belle's mom would fill it with something fun. Fruits in the summer, tons of conversation hearts at Valentines day. Belle loved it.

I have a nice, large glass salad bowl that is used on rare, fancy occasions. So I filled it with ornaments from the dollar store.

I love all the different textures! Total cost: $4. Perhaps I will start a tradition of filling this bowl with different things too.

Party Like it's 1979.

2009-12-02T12:40:00.003-07:00

Today my sweet Dashing Boy turned 30.

30!

I've been thinking about this birthday for years. Possibly fairly soon after we got married. I don't know, it just seemed like one to make special and that is a job for the wife.

So for a couple of months I've been carrying around my little camcorder and filming good friends and family of Dashing Boy. It's been a big, big secret.

I felt a bit like I was back in college (broadcast journalism major), shushing people as I filmed so as to eliminate distracting background noise, and sitting in a little room for hours editing. Only now, I feel a little wiser. And look! 3 years later I'm using my skills! That makes me happy.

But what I'm most happy about is that I am the wife to this lovely 30-year-old man :) I am so in love with him. And it's been such a blessing to be able to visit with so many close people in his life!

Anyway, my house is a complete disaster. Very neglected this week. But the movie is done! The secret is out! And a little party is in the works for Saturday night! (If anyone who reads this is a friend of Dashing Boy, you are invited! e-mail me for more info!)

Homemade Fancy, pt 1

2009-12-01T10:05:00.007-07:00

This year I wanted make things sparkle a bit more in our home for the holidays. My goal is to spend very little to no money to do this. And so I present to you:

HOMEMADE FANCY 2009!

I have been eying wreaths now for quite some time. But I must be looking in the wrong places or something because all the wreaths I like are $50 or so! Even with adding a coupon to that, that price just seems a little steep. And so, for my my first project I made a wreath. I had all the materials I needed for the project lying around my house so the total price= $0.

This is what it looks like:

For this project you will need:
Fabric scraps
a metal hanger
ribbon if you wish
a ruler
scissors
pliers
gluegun

Step 1: Take the metal hanger and with the wire cutting part on the pliers cut the top part of the hanger off. Then, using the pliers, bend your hanger around into a circle. It doesn't need to be perfect. If there are a few little kinks you won't see them in the end. Bend the two ends of the wire in opposing directions and attach them to each other to complete the circle.

Step 2: Take a strip of fabric and with your gluegun attach one end of the fabric over where the two ends meet each other. Wrap it around this area then glue the other side down.

Step 3: Now it is time to rip your fabric. I ripped mine into roughly 1 1/2 x 8 inch strips. I measured the strip length and then just arbitrarily cut little indentations and ripped them. I like the ripped look plus it's super fast and easy! I had fabric scraps already that needed a use, but if you don't, you can print a coupon online and you can get some fabric for not much. I think a yard total would be plenty!

Step 4: Tie tie tie! Take your strips and tie them around your hanger! then squeeze them all together and tie some more! (I think I could have made mine a tad bushier but thought it looked nice when I stopped). *In this step, before you are completely done, make sure to add a ribbon on the top that you will use to hang the wreath. Fold the ribbon in half, wrap it around the wreath, then pull then ends of the ribbon through the loop. Then tie some strips over it!

Step 5: Now all it needs is a bow or some other decoration! or nothing if you want it simple!

Wallah! A crafty evening and a cute wreath!

mmm...Roasted Red Pepper Salad!

2009-11-30T11:38:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T10:35:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for family, the Savior, kind friends and faith.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Whoa Carrots!

2009-11-22T11:37:00.001-07:00

Crazy Girls

2009-11-19T15:40:00.003-07:00

Tonight I am going to see New Moon at midnight.

With hundreds of other crazy girls. A girl in my neighborhood rented out a whole theater. There will be games, and door prizes, and I'm sure lots of screaming.

I got invited months ago by my friend J. She is the one I accidentally pulled my pants down in front of. Against an unsightly beginning, we've become good friends :)

I wasn't interested in the Twilight series at all but once it kept getting bigger and bigger, I decided it was becoming too much a part of our pop culture to not read. I did the same thing with Harry Potter (which is the best!).

The books for me were just ok. They were interesting because I felt like I was pushing through them sometimes but then I read them so fast, so I guess that's saying something. And in the movie Bella was way too pouty for me. The same distant, gazing face over and over. And also I agreed on many fronts with how Natalie felt about the movie.

But here I am, excited for 10:00 to roll around and snacks with ladies and being out on the town.

Will I scream when Jacob takes his shirt off?
Will Bella still be really pouty with weird music in the background?
Will I manage to not do anything too embarrassing (you know like pull my pants down) and maybe make a new friend?

We shall see!

I Heart Prints.

2009-11-18T16:59:00.011-07:00

For the last little while I've been searching for some art to hang on the walls.

Here are some of the choices from some lovely lady artisans:

I loved this one so much by Jenny & Aaron of Everyday is a Holiday I even managed to find the same frame they used in their picture!

This one of the Salt Lake Temple is sweet and simple. My camera was being grumpy ( I think it's broken) so it isn't in sharp focus. But it is a beauty and Susan of Persimmon and Pink was so nice and seemed like she must be a beautiful person also. (FYI: She is on vacation so her shop is temporarily closed but I if I were you I would go back in a few days and check out her amazing inventory!)

And this one is still searching for its frame, but is on display in the meantime. It is a favorite because 1: it is titled "Hoot Cakes" and 2: it is made by my good friend Lauren who is a budding print maker. Lauren, you need a shop so I can link to you and others can buy cool prints from you :)