36 Weeks: Ready or Not!

We're down to less than a month (we hope). The question we get the most: are you ready? What a loaded question! I feel pressured to say "yes", of course, but I'm not sure first-time parents can ever declare their readiness. So, instead, my response is often: Ready or not. . .  

There are some readiness factors I certainly need to get on. I should probably start with packing a hospital bag, follow that with getting my daily logs ready (tracking feedings, stools, etcetera), then get the cloth diapers pre-washed per instructions, stock the nursery (which will benefit from unpacking the shower gifts), and narrow down the necessity list (which was also benefited from my showers)! Even with a to-do list left, I feel better prepared to take this on because of the two leading men in my life!

My hubby and my Lord will be essential and I'm fully aware of that! I'm so grateful to have them and to know they're paired up too! Of all the things I've yet to prepare, essential on my to do list is to help my husband feel prepared as well. While assembling the baby stuff we've been blessed with by others may help, and his new copy of Show Dad How will likely prove useful, I want to be sure he knows he's supported and believed in.

For Mike. . . 

You'll be great, Dad. I just know it. And we haven't even met.

God told me to tell you that you've got nothing to fret.

He said you have a big job but you're just the guy to do it

and He trusts that you know He's there to help you through it.

I'm told it's hard work to raise a boy like me

and men get really nervous when they're fathers-to-be.

I hear this is the hardest job you'll ever sign up for,

so I'm glad we both have Mom for her love and support.

The good news is you'll love me, so how hard can it be

to make sure I feel your love and take on the name "Daddy"?

It sounds like lots of work and not just time for play

as you raise me from boy to man and teach me all His ways.

I know you'll do your best, Dad, and that's all I can ask for.

You're my father here on earth before we're back with God once more.

As my provider and protector, I know you want what's best,

so you'll praise & protect me and remind me I am blessed.

See, Mom tells me I'm lucky to have a dad like you.

You're exactly what she prayed for and God's rooting for us too!
 

Feeling the Love: One shower at a time

Some people just know how to make you feel special. It's not hard to go to work with friends like these to greet you each day!

To each of them goes out my gratitude! Especially, to Miss Kay, my mother if I had another, who was up at 5am making crockpot lasagna (recipe to be shared for future blog post I'm sure). You are all a blessing and a joy to have in my life!  



The hostess of my glorious work shower, Miss Kay!



Emptying my plate

Filling my plate

 

The centerpiece/ gift!

That octoganal package so neatly wrapped was undoubtedly a gift-wrapping CHALLENGE!

Kristin with the top of the centerpiece!
Also the one with the largest gift-wrapping obstacle: a bumbo seat!

Robin (our dessert expert) & Pam

Michelle mocking another photo opp before attempting to get out of the way
(see below: attempt failed)

Look at this fleecey little monster outfit! :)



Thank you to all of you who could make it and those who couldn't! This little guy feels loved already as do I with all the sweet messages left in your cards and felt in your presence/presents!

Let the Parenting Debates Begin: Baby Pictures

I know there will be many important things to debate and reach agreement upon for Mike and I in the near and distant future. The first one I started is about baby pictures. With the cost of precious moments captivated on film sometimes coming with an alarming price tag, I thought it was worth discussion BEFORE I book a newborn session with a couple hundred bucks flying out the window. I want images on cd-it seems like a trend that shouldn't be out of reach. I want indoor and outdoor shots. I don't want the only studio option to always be at my house just to have an affordable photographer. So, what's a girl to do?

I asked Mike what amount he thought was acceptable for the many photographed milestones of baby's first year. "Thirty bucks. That should do it." Hmm. . . I'm guessing I may have needed to come at him with more information before the blanket question was posed. When I shared some more detail, he was in awe of yet another glorified baby expense (yes, a crib/stroller/swing/bouncy/car seat is necessary and does cost THAT much!). I have to admit I can agree that SOME of the price for products we found are, in fact, outrageous. So, we must find a compromise and solution.

Mike's idea of a compromise is this: Can't you use your push present! Have you heard of a push present? Please don't tell me that I'm the one introducing you to both the terms babymoon AND push present. I'd never heard of a push present either until I was already pregnant and planning on pushing! Well, by its simplest definition, it's a present mommy gets for all the hard work of labor and pregnancy. And my hubby did very well in deciding upon mine. I got a Nikon D3000 DSLR camera for my push present. I have NO idea how to use it but I am excited to have nicer photos as this child's life will be chronicled right here in blogland!

So, Mike is definitely on to something with this suggestion. I have every intention of paying for everything I want for both the newborn and 1-year photos: a disc, a studio, multiple outfits and indoor & outdoor pictures. However, the in-between sessions will be DIY (fingers crossed). So, the cost of the camera can be recouped with my new hobby. (Lord, please don't let me get carried away with this new hobby so it, in fact, costs more money than it ever saves us.)

Camera: check.
Book on photographing your newborn's first year: ordered.
Class on how to use your DSLR: booked for Saturday afternoon.

See what a great Daddy I have on my team? LOVE HIM! I will definitely document his smiles along with his mini me's. . . How could I resist capturing this face?

Thrifty Solutions to Make the Old New Again (including a no-sew hem)

When we we got done with the master bedroom, I didn't want to spend more money on just about anything! We still had curtains from our old house where we had two lare windows. In the new room, we had one large and 2 small to work with. So, I had 4 curtain panels ond two long valances whih clearly wouldn't work. Or would it?

Not being able to sew, I quickly blew past the idea of cutting the valance in half to use it as two Then, I came back to it and cut it in half anyway! And I hot glued a hem. Yes, I did. I cut it in half and then ripped the seam just about a half inch in ward from the cut. I folded it upward and placed hot glue along the edge befor ethen folding it in to the existing valance. This created a seam that will work when hanging above your head in a corner and not being pulled on a lot.

This shot compares the appearance of the hot-glued hem to the manufactured one.

The next challenge came with the double hung rods. Again, I only had two from the old house and they were both too long for the two small windows. (Luckily one was the right length for the one large window we needed to dress). A double-hung rod set is about $40! Needing two for the small windows amounted to $80 I didn't want to spend after coming up with a solution to the valance dilemma. So, I found another set of double hung rod brackets for just $8. While the rods were still too long, Mike cut them down to size. The old set had two rods: one for the front (valance) and one for the back (curtain panel).

So, I took the finials and put each matching set on the same rod. Since they're on opposite walls, you wouldn't notice if I hadn't just told you! These rods are on the front and, in the back, the curtain panels are hung on the $1 dowel rods that don't hang our the end so you can't even see them behind the valances. Proof is in the bottom picture. So, for just $10: dowels and brackets, I was able to use what I already had. It saved at least $120 I would have spent on 3 new valances (I'd have had to find 2 small and 1 big to match) and 2 new shorter double-hung bracket sets. Totally worth a couple hours of effort! 



Recipes to Share: Potato Soup & A Pupdate

Fall brings the soup recipes out in full force! One of Mike's favorites (I'll never share my chili recipe-THE favorite) is potato soup on a chilly evening! Of course, we add so many crackers, it's more like a casserole by the time we eat it!

6-8 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
6 strips bacon (I've also used diced ham), diced
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cans cream of celery
2-3 cans full of milk (cans referring to the soup cans you just emptied)
Seasoning salt and Pepper to taste

Boil your potatoes until a fork goes through but not so soft you could mash 'em!

At the same time, cook your onion and bacon together. Retain the drippings to go in the soup too. Use turkey bacon if you want to save on calories or diced ham (which only needs heated as it's throughly cooked) for an even quicker option and slight taste variation; I do this most frequently.

Drain potatoes and put back in dutch oven adding all liquid ingredients along with the bacon and onion. Cook on med to heat through and then simmer til you serve stirring frequently to prevent the milk from scorching.

Best served with a package of crackers per person and a peanut butter sandwich!

PUPDATE!
For those of you who worry that our two beloved four-legged children are being neglected as we anxiously await baby G, here's proof they're never left out:

Even they love potato soup! :)

Fall Frenzy Started: Sweater-Covered Vases

Necessary Materials

Necessary Supplies

Step 1. Trace the base of the vase on the kleenex box (or other scrap cardboard and cut cut to fit on bottom. Do not glue in place.

 

 

 

 

Step 2:Pull sweater sleeve over glass vase and cut about an inch below the necessary length.

Step 3: Cut slits in the excess inch about 1-2 inches apart.

Step 4: Lay flaps flat one at a time and hot glue to kleenex circle. Cut excess that overlaps to get a level base.

The one on the left was pictured in the instructions. The one on the right, I made shorter and rolled the sleeve only half-way up a much taller vase. The little one will get a hemp bow and a candle while the taller will be filled with dried wheat.

Easy stuff to add a warm cozy feel to your living space. PLUS, hot gluing to the cardboard instead of the vase leaves the vases as is for seasons in which they shouldn't be wrapped in cozy cable knit! Wouldn't it be fun to do an "Ugly Sweater Party" and then make these as mementos from the old never-to-be-worn-again sweater?!? 

Happy Fall Y'All!

Recipes to Share: Zucchini Bread

Nothing says fall like veggies in my baking. Zucchini and pumpkin make the appearance most often. If it's cool enough to bake for a fraction of the day, bake your favorite. This is a beloved recipe of my own. When we were little, Farmer's Markets sold tiny loaves of bread and my mom would let each of the three girls get their own. I always picked "bikini" bread while my sister's got something sweeter. They've since acquired the taste. . . and I've since made the bread sweeter with PINEAPPLE! I hate nuts in my bread so I replace them with things like chocolate chips or fruit. Banana nut bread? Try Banana chocolate chip bread! Try it out.

“Wet” Ingredients to combine:

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup veg oil

½ cup softened margarine (butter if you insist)

2 cups grated zucchini

1 8-oz can crushed pineapple, drained 

Dry Ingredients to combine:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp baking soda

½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1-2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Preheat Oven to 350.

Combine all “wet” ingredients in large bowl and mix.

Combine all dry ingredients in medium bowl and sift to blend.

(Just use a fork or whisk if you don't have a sifter)

Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet until are moistened.

Spray two loaf pans and fill each with equal parts of batter.

Bake for about an hour on your center rack; check after 45-50 minutes. I move mine up to the top rack for the last 10-15 to be sure the top “cracks” because I like the almost crunchy bread top! You could certainly add nuts as well as there’s enough moisture in this recipe to sustain them!

Side note: A good-sized zucchini should give you 4 cups grated so you can freeze the other 2 cups in a ziploc baggie and save them for your next two loaves!