Mother Love

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." -Mother Teresa

This week, in the wake of political and spiritual controversies, debates over magazine covers and articles, my mind has been reeling. I've been trying to find some real perspective. I think we all are. Yes, we all need it! Our community, our society, our nation needs to gain some real, true perspective on what's really important.

Two of my favorite bloggers, Stephanie Precourt and Lovelyn Palm, are featured in the clip below (and in my sidebar) and I hope that as you read and watch it you are dealt a blow to your heart and soul like I was today. We all need, once in a while, some glimmer of light to be shed on what is true and real in this life beyond just opinions and ideas (and I've got lots of 'em too!), and surface and shallow, and agenda and propaganda, and he said/she said, and blah blah blah. There is a Truth to be gained, you know? There are things that are real and right, and not just what we see on the surface or even what we think or believe down deep based on all of our knowledge and understanding. There are things bigger than all of us!

Here is a beautiful reminder of what it's all really about.

May we all strive to be better than we are, individually and as a whole. May we cease to point the finger, or make our own side heard even louder, just long enough to learn how to really LOVE.

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Have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, and hug your babies tight. Love them big.

19 months, 1 week and 1 day {A Letter}

My little big man,

So little and so big, you are. You're growing every day, hour, minute, right before our eyes. You're more than amazing! I want you to always know that. You are a gift to my heart and my life, and you are a gift to the world, because God made you so very special.

You've been up to so very much lately. Over the past few months in particular, you've gone from baby to boy, and from stage to stage to stage in a way I never expected ...

Since about 17 months old, you've been sleeping better than you ever have in your life! We don't know exactly how or why, but more sleep has made you a happier, more relaxed little person, and we're so relieved to see that in you! You still have your days now and then, but you take hour long naps (or more) almost always now! At night time we go through your bedtime routine of bath, lotion and jammies. Then I get your cup of milk and your Lovey and say "Let's go read a book!". You happily march into the bedroom and sit with me to read one of your bedtime books (usually Just Go To Bed). Then I say, "Let's say our prayers", sit you in my lap and pray, and you sit quietly, knowing that I'm saying important words, but not to you. Somehow I think you know how special those prayers are. Then I pick you up, hug and kiss kiss kiss you, say "Night night Baby Boy. Mama loves you.", and sit you in your bed. I watch you lay down while I push the button on your rain forest light and cover you with your blanket, then leave you to your dreams. These are some of the greatest moments of my day, every day. Not even because you're going to sleep, but because I'm watching your person-hood grow with each passing night during these moments, as you watch and listen to me. Because I'm praying over you with my whole heart. Because I'm seeing your trust in me, and your sense of security increase more and more the older you get, and then I know how much you love me. These are some of the greatest moments in my life.

Along with more sleep has come much more cuddling. You were not a snuggly cuddly baby, and I used to feel a little sad about that. You're making up for it now, though, and looove snuggling up to Daddy or me, like to be picked up just because, and enjoy sleeping close to us at night (when you often times wake up and move to our bed for the rest of the night - but then sleep well past 6am these days!!!). You are most content when we are all together! ... And yet, you are also more independent. You very often clean up toys that are out, sometimes because you are asked and sometimes just because. You put them all in their designated container and clap for yourself. So we clap and praise you, and enjoy you to pieces! We expect you to take care of your things now, and more often than not you willingly obey when asked to pick up something you've left behind or thrown down, or to give us something that you may not play with. About half the time you share toys with friends, and often take a toy (or something else that you find valuable) to a crying or upset playmate. This is something that we never modeled or asked of you, and I love seeing that childish compassion in you.

You are loud and boundless! You are so much the same and yet so different from me. The same with Daddy - so similar, yet so different. We marvel at you constantly! So curious and inquisitive, and one of your favorite things to say is "Whassat?!" Whether you know the answer or not, you love to talk about and learn about things and people, so we always answer you, or ask you back, and have conversations about who everyone is and what everything does. You eat it up! You love flipping through books, watching movies, dancing to music, exploring outside, and being around people. Your favorites are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse anything(!), "The Wheels on the Bus", "The ABC song", bubbles, balls, "Cars" anything, animals and their sounds, pushing buttons that make sounds, putting things into containers, building with blocks, and running or wrestling around. You say - or try to say - more and more words every week, and your vocabulary has now reached 40-50 words! You've recently gotten more interested in little figurines and character toys, and in Elmo and all his friends. You are absolutely obsessed with stars, and can spot one from a mile away. It cracks us up! You just started stacking things, and I don't even know where you learned that! You just started doing it, and I was so impressed! You also have a new found interest in coloring and learning about letters/letter sounds, and a new love for puzzles. I absolutely love watching you learn more about how things go together, and seeking and finding. It's such a cool experience watching your little wheels turning as you figure things out!

Even in moments of correction or tears, you are growing and learning, and Mommy and Daddy right along with you. We're a team. We're a family.

Lots of changes are coming soon for you and for all of us, Little Mister. Always know, though, we're in this together! You're going to be an amazing big brother, and I can't wait to see what more the future holds for your little self, my big boy.

Mommy loves you, with such a big love.

Pinned!!!

Kinda my new "thing", here lately, is using Pinterest as a cookbook. Like many other wives and moms I'm a sucker for a recipe that qualifies as easy, quick, and affordable. All three is the key! From the time my husband and I got married I've often turned to allrecipes.com for new recipes or meal ideas, and still do from time to time. Since I started pinning, though, it's just become so easy to find lots of different and unique yummy ideas, on a regular basis. Many of you know how addictive Pinterest can be, and all the more when you begin finding stuff that works - whether it be a craft idea, cleaning tip, inspirational quote, birthday party idea, or a delicious recipe. There's just sooo much there at your fingertips! If you're not pinning yet, get on it! It's a whole, ever-growing and changing idea book, right there on your phone or computer. If you need an invite, shoot me an email and I'll be happy to send you one!

Here are a few recipes I've tried recently, as well as our family's own personal little review (which I also added in the comments under each recipe pin on my "Foody" board, so I'll remember for next time I take a look) ... 

"Healthy cheesy chicken and rice bake with black beans and corn"
... but I wrote it on my recipe card as "Mexican Cheesy Chicken & Rice"

This is the first Pinterest recipe I tried and it was a hit!!! Everyone loved this, particularly my brother-in-law, and all of the kids ate it and liked it too - including Solomon, my niece, and both nephews. I liked that you had ingredients options and leeway to cater it to your own tastes. I thought I might add more corn next time, just because that's what we like.

"OMG" Chicken

I mostly picked this because it seemed so darn easy, and definitely was. It wasn't quite "OMG", but it was good. I served it with green beans (because we have 85,000 cans of them) and sliced carrots (because I was craving them), and crescent rolls (because they really are omg!). I think the biggest change to make would just be more seasoning, however you choose. Next time I will probably add salt and pepper, and possibly a little garlic powder. Not a difficult fix at all!

"Crockpot Italian Chicken"

I just made this meal for my friend Paige and her husband Justin, who just had a brand new baby girl, Aveleen. It looked and sounded delicious to me (I was craving pasta at the time. Haha!), and really sold me because I could put it in the crock pot and time out my day since I had a few things planned that Saturday. I  was a little nervous sending this to them since it was my first time making it, and only got a small taste for myself just to be sure I wasn't sending them junk. She texted me this a little while after we had left her house
"OMG Kelly!!! This is so delicious!! I need the recipe!"
Score! Relief! I was so happy they were able to enjoy a good meal! Of course I happily directed her to my Pinterest board. I will definitely be making this again for my own family!

"Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole"

This one I made just this week, because I already had all the ingredients I needed. Love it when that happens! My mom always made baked spaghetti and it reminded me how much we used to love it. I don't think it was as great as what she made, but it was creamy and good. The cream cheese added a nice flavor and texture. I will make this again as well, but will put all the ingredients together, instead of layering like the recipe calls for. Oh, and next time I'll have garlic bread on the side!

Solomon loved it, and had two helpings!

Okay, I shared my tried and tested recipe finds, now you share yours! Especially if they qualify as the magic three, easy, quick, and affordable. I would love to know what some of your favorite things to feed your families are, so please leave them in the comments section for me and for anyone else who may be peeking in here. Thanks friends! 

**BONUS**

*Here's a link to my Pinterest boards. Feel free to follow, and we'll share pins!

*Here's a link to a super helpful blog post about getting started on Pinterest. Enjoy, and happy pinning!!!

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday: All My Love

Everything I've ever wanted

right here

and so much more.

Newbie Notes, part 5: Weeks 19-22

We're over half way there, Newbie and I.
It's really hard for me to believe how quickly all this is flying by! It's just been so darn easy; just happening. No effort on my part, exactly. She's just growing, and living, and a miracle. Because God said so.
She's a gift.

Today, 22 weeks 1 day

She's growing, and showing me who she is a little more all the time. At 18-19 weeks she was snuggling way down low into Mommy's tummy all the time. Talk about pressure! It also made my hips and lower back really sore. Solomon never really did that until he was ready to come out. I actually had to ask some friends who've had more than one baby what their experiences were with that because it just seemed too soon to be feeling so sore, so low, so soon. Then at the end of the 19th week I started feeling all stretched out, and within a couple days she moved up! She had a little more room all the sudden and decided to take advantage of it. So, week 20 she spent a lot of time bouncing around in every corner she could fit herself into. After that I've been feeling her everywhere, almost all the time! I haven't been able to tell if she has a regular sleep cycle just yet because I seem to feel her nudging around all hours of the day and night. It's such a special thing, as I know every Mommy would agree. I missed it after having Solomon, and I'm loving it so much now. There is nothing else in the world that compares to feeling your child growing in your body! Oh! And Larry has been able to feel her too!!!

Right now, at just over half way through pregnancy, she is also taking up just over half of my tummy. The rest is all my organs moving up. Totally weird. One of my weekly updates described a baby at 22 weeks as being the size of a coconut. Another said she would be just under one pound, and just under a foot long. I believe it! I've reached the point of having to stand up carefully, and sometimes feeling little pains depending on where she's positioned when I sit or stand. Last night was the first time I had to sleep with a pillow between my legs, because my hips have been really sore when I wake up in the mornings. It made a huge difference! I honestly don't remember at what point last time all of this happened, but I feel pretty healthy, so I think it's all just growth.

I had a doctor's appointment today and everything looked great. Larry got to hear her heartbeat for the first time and it sounded great, in the 150s. I've gained 8 pounds so far. Not bad. Also, we WILL get a follow up ultrasound to the last one at my next appointment, in three weeks!!! I wasn't holding my breath when we talked to the doctor about it today, since gender isn't a health issue, but he was okay with doing another one next time, when they can be prepared for it ahead of time. I am so stoked to see my girl again ... and get proof that she's a girl!!!

As far as other Mommy stuff, still craving sweets and lots of juice, and often wanting lots of protein. Milk is making me gaggy, brushing my teeth is miserable, and the heartburn has started. Tums and I have a major love/hate relationship! They take away the heartburn pretty quickly, but leave a terrible taste in my mouth that makes me queasy. So unfair. Ha!

I'm officially in the reading stage of preparation, and my current book is "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding". It is excellent and I highly recommend it! I wish I had had much of the information I'm finding now on my first go 'round. I did a lot of reading before, but I'm finding helpful tips for both birth and establishing breastfeeding that I have yet to read anywhere else. Score!
I have several other books on my to-read list. What do you recommend?

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Snuggling sister, at 19 weeks

Solomon has been extra snuggly lately! I've wondered if it's the pregnancy hormones making a difference, but he's the same with Daddy too. So who really knows? I guess it could be that he just senses the shift in our talk and in our efforts to plan a tiny bit. Little ones have an amazing capacity to understand things we would never think they could. No matter the reason for it though, I'm devouring all the hugs, loves and kisses I can get! I thrive on it more and more the closer we get to having Baby #2. My little guy's world is going to be rocked, and my prayer for him every day lately is that he feels Mommy & Daddy's love down deep, and is completely secure in who we are and who he is. I've been thinking a lot about the transition time that we will go through, and it makes me panicky, to be honest. Preparation time is quickly approaching! I'm going to get a book or two for us to start reading with him about having a new sibling. From the reviews I've read, right now I'm looking at "The New Baby" (we love Mercer Mayer!) and "On Mother's Lap", and possibly "What Baby Needs". It has also crossed my mind to get a special baby doll, once we're very close, as a "practice baby" to have in the house, treat gently and hold, like we will our real baby. I don't know for sure, just brain storming right now. Solomon will be 23 months old when his baby sister is born, which is still very young to no longer be "the baby". If you have some age appropriate ideas to share to help us prepare him for the big event we are totally open to them, and appreciate the help!