Coming Soon...

A new baby! And all over our house you can see the signs. The bassinet is clean, has a clean sheet, and is set up in our bedroom. The swing and bouncer seat (Thanks Erin!) are set up and have fresh batteries. Newborn clothes are washed and packed in my hospital bag. The infant car seat is clean and waiting for Chad to install it this weekend. At 37 weeks pregnant, I couldn't be more excited or ready to meet our new baby! I was trying to explain to Chad a few days ago what "nesting" feels like: "It's like a little voice in your head saying 'Get ready! Get ready' all the time." It's really a great feeling and I know that in the coming months I will appreciate the TLC I'm giving our house, car, and stuff in these last few weeks. I love this baby so much! I think most parents often wonder privately to themselves "Will I love this child like I love our first?" This is because when your first child is born your heart explodes with love that you didn't even know you had. I feel like my heart has already expanded and made room for this little one equal to the love I have for Graham. What a miracle! I can't wait to see Graham and Molly interact and eventually play, talk and grow up together. My greatest joy! I don't know how you could ever explain this feeling to someone who doesn't have kids themselves. You just can't fully understand it. I know now why when I was teaching, my students' mothers would often ask "Do you have kids?" Especially when their child was struggling. I understand what they were trying to say! They were saying "Do you know how I'm feeling? That this child is my whole world? Do you know what it feels like when someone criticizes your child, even with the best intentions? Do you know how my heart breaks to see them have to struggle and learn? Do you know that I would do anything to take away their every hurt, and yet I know that I can't?" That's what being a mother is like. I wouldn't trade it for anything and I can't wait to do it all again. 

And so, even though I fully remember how incredibly hard taking care of a newborn is, I remember being sleep deprived, I remember how your every thought hangs on breastfeeding and wet diapers, I'm still SO EXCITED. I can hardly wait. There's nothing else I'd rather do! 

(That doesn't mean that I don't occasionally need to be reminded of that, though.) :)

Trick or Treat!

Chad teaches a college class on Wednesday nights this semester, so I had thought that Halloween this year would be Graham and I at home together (we don't really live in a good neighborhood for trick or treating). But then I found out at my bible study that a couple of my friends would be husband-less on Halloween this year as well. We decided to meet up and let our kids trick or treat together. I'm so glad we did because we all ended up having a blast! 

Graham and his little friend Macy were a bit clueless at first as to what to do, but they figured it out pretty quick! Graham couldn't seem to understand that he only got one piece of candy at each house, he kept waiting for more. I loved to hear him say, "tiki teet!" I had so much fun just watching him experience this for the first time. He was exhausted by the time we were done. And I did let him have 2 pieces of candy. :)

Halloween Party 2012!

This morning Graham and I hosted a Halloween party for our play group. Everyone in the group was able to come and we had a great time! Here is Graham in his Thomas the train costume:

At the party we did a fun Halloween craft: making pumpkin magnets. We also had snacks and cupcakes and all the kids enjoyed playing with Graham's toys. 

Here is Miss Audrey dressed as Wonder Woman:

And Max dressed as Where's Waldo:

Miss Sloan is getting to be such a big girl!

Erin and Reid, who was dressed as a shark. I didn't get a very good picture of Reid's sister, Macy, who was dressed as Nemo.

Amy and Sloan:

Kristen and Wyatt, dressed as a monkey:

Tenille and Audrey:

Jessica and Max:

Tara, Madelyn, and Jaxon, dressed as an umpa lumpa:

Some of the kiddos enjoying snack together. This is the only picture I got of Macy (sorry Erin!):

And I love this picture of me and my little guy:

And then we decided to get a picture of all the kids together. Our play group has really grown! And we have 3 more baby girls coming soon! I'm so thankful for each of these precious little ones. Thanks for coming everyone!

35 weeks

How far along? 35 weeks and 2 days

How big is the baby? About 5 and 1/4 lbs, 18 in. (but I wouldn't be surprised if she is already bigger than that!)

Are you in maternity clothes? Exclusively. Well, that and Chad's clothes.

How do you feel physically? I have to conserve my energy because lately I seem to tire so easily. I'm also having all kind of aches and pains that my doctor says are normal (didn't have that with Graham!)

Sleep? Napping or at least resting everyday, sleeping well at night except for having to get up so often. 

Miss anything? I miss my old energy level!

Feeling movement of the baby? Yes although she is no longer turning, just kicking, etc. 

Food cravings? Sweets, not as hungry as I was.

Gender of the baby? It's a GIRL! 

Mood/thoughts? Lots of mixed emotions. I am SO EXCITED to take care of a newborn baby again - my very own! This week I've been washing, folding, and organizing all of Molly's things and that has been so much fun! I am also feeling some sadness about my son: knowing that this baby will be a tough adjustment for him. Knowing that he will no longer get my undivided attention, which he has enjoyed all his life. I also have some anxiety about my delivery. In case you didn't know, Graham's delivery was a traumatic experience in which I almost bled to death. I am "at risk" for the same complication to occur again. And even though we have taken many precautions to prevent it, I can't help but wonder, "what if?" Please join us in praying for a safe delivery, with a healthy baby and mom. 

By the way, my doctor has decided to induce my labor one week early (unless of course she comes before then) on November 20th - two days before Thanksgiving. That's in FOUR WEEKS people! :) We are hoping that Molly will not be as big as Graham was (9 lbs 15 oz, 22 in.).

Molly's Baby Shower

Last weekend my wonderful friends hosted a very sweet baby shower for Molly and I. They are so thoughtful! The theme of the shower was cupcakes. There was a cupcake bar where we got to ice and decorate cupcakes. Delish! Thank you so much to all of you who came, and especially to the sweet friends who did the planning. 

I just love this wreath that my talented friend Jessica made. I have it hanging on Molly's door!

Chad and I really enjoyed reading all the "wishes for baby" that we received. I'm going to keep them for her. :)

Decorating cupcakes...mine was so yummy!

My mom bought this sweet hand-made outfit in Italy...before she even knew we were having a girl!

I love this plaque that my friend Tara had done for Molly. It looks perfect in her room!

This beautiful blanket is covered in scriptures! Graham has one just like it in blue (they both came from my sweet mother-in-law) and he used it all the time. 

My friend Erin made this hot pink tutu, I love it!

Look at all the goodies!

And here are all my precious friends who hosted the shower for me. I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends. 

Random Things

I just finished reading The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure, which my mom loaned me.

I have been a big fan of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder since I was a little girl. I have read the entire series several times, and still enjoy reading them every now and then as an adult (I really like re-reading books). I have even envisioned my mom and I someday visiting The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri together someday. But my interest in Laura and her books pales in comparison to that of Wendy McClure! This book chronicles her adventures as she visits each one of Laura's homesites and attempts several Little House activities, such as churning butter, twisting hay sticks, grinding wheat in a coffee mill, etc. It was funny and I enjoyed it! But unless you love the book series, you won't be interested in this book. 

Its fall, my favorite season, and I have been making some of my favorite fall soup recipes (even though its still quite warm here in Texas). I don't think I've ever shared recipes on my blog! Here are a couple of my favorites:

Potato Soup (adapted from a weight watchers recipe):

Ingredients:

1 bag of frozen cubed hash brown potatoes

1 packet of Pioneer white gravy mix

1 or 2 boxes of chicken broth (depending on the thickness you like)

salt and pepper

toppings (we like cheese and sometimes bacon)

Bring broth to a boil in a big pot. Add potatoes and simmer until they are tender and kind of falling apart. Add gravy mix and salt and pepper to taste. At this point I like to partially blend it with an immersion blender so that it still has some potato chunks. You can skip this or blend it completely. 

This recipe is always a BIG hit with my husband, and it is so easy and fast!

Chicken Tortilla Soup (from my friend Mary Catherine)

Ingredients:

1 rotisserie chicken - skin removed and shredded

2 cans of cannelloni beans - rinsed and drained

1 jar of salsa verde - any kind

1 box of chicken broth

1 tsp cumin

salt and pepper

toppings - tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, or avocado - whatever you like

Combine chicken, beans, salsa, broth, and cumin and bring to a simmer. Salt and pepper to taste. That's it! Shredding the chicken is the most time consuming part. This soup is delicious leftover. 

Lastly, Chad and I went to the movies this weekend which we rarely get to do. We went to my FAVORITE theater: Movie Tavern on West 7th. We went to see Taken 2.

We really liked the original Taken, which is a really exciting thriller (but violent!). Taken 2 was good but not nearly as exciting. I enjoyed all the scenery in Istanbul, Turkey - a city I would like to visit someday.

I owe a BIG THANK YOU to our friends Clay and Jessica for babysitting at the last minute!!