erin elizabeth king

tuesday

2012-01-24T22:00:00.001-08:00

want to know why this tuesday was so awesome?

1. amos and i got to sleep in.
2. we went to a MOPS meeting. someone at our table asked what i did. i said, "i'm a stay-at-home-mom and a dancer," (because it's at the core of who i am). one of the ladies turned to her older mother and said, "see, i told you!" how she knew, i'm not sure. but it was an awesome feeling.
3. amos and i went to our new chiropractor and talked/got adjusted. she reaffirmed our efforts to help amos sleep in his crib without any crying. and he definitely charmed her with his big blue eyes and sweet dimples.
4. i got to go to a kari jobe concert with my best friend and praise the lord!

you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. -jeremiah 29:13

feeling productive

2012-01-17T19:02:00.000-08:00

1. made these awesome coconut flour blueberry muffins today and enjoyed them with a homemade chai tonight.
2. my dilly carrot sticks are fermenting on the counter (got to use some leftover whey from michael's skyr).
3. my chicken stock has been simmering for hours.
4. amos' hands are stained purple from eating blueberries : )
5. made rosemary garlic pork tenderloin with a muscadine jelly apple sauce, with roasted potatoes and carrots for dinner.
6. washed and folded diapers.
7. took my sweet boy on a walk.
8. found this. how good does that look!? seems like science...i'll have to get michael to make it for me!

amos loved watching me run around the kitchen today. i gave him a big carrot to play with and he was content in his highchair. score.

my boy

2012-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

just got his front two top teeth in. not fun. he's doing much better since they broke through. he's standing and starting to push things. very attached to mommy and daddy and loves being carried in the ergo. kissed the little girl on the cover of my magazine the other day...SO sweet. he always smiles at her when we're rocking. what a charmer.

my oh my...i love him.

adventures in food land

2012-01-05T18:46:00.000-08:00

what a great week! thus far, my dear husband has made some awesome icelandic yogurt, skyr. he's currently in the process of making ricotta from the leftover whey, and we have plans for butter and buttermilk soon! we had some roasted cauliflower soup with homemade guacamole, tried a friend's paleo meatloaf recipe with butternut squash fries, and tonight i made some grain-free pizza (and didn't expect it to taste so GREAT). have you tried any new recipes lately? do share!

veggies, veggies, veggies

2012-01-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

spaghetti squash with creamy roasted vegetable sauce
1 spagetti squash
1 yellow onion
3-4 garlic cloves, peeled
2 bell peppers, red & orange (your choice)
olive oil or coconut oil
organic heavy cream (or broth if you're dairy free)
fresh basil
fresh rosemary
parmesan
kalamata olives

preheat oven to 350. cut spaghetti squash lengthwise, scoop out seeds, drizzle with oil, and place cut side down on baking sheet. add chopped onion and peppers and garlic cloves to baking sheet and drizzle with more oil, salt and pepper. roast all together for 40-45 minutes, or until vegetables are golden brown. turn squash over to let cool. meanwhile, put the rest of the roasted goodness in a food processor and pulse to your liking. add as much cream as you want, and pulse in basil and rosemary at the end. like how specific my instructions are? scoop out squash til' nothing is left! serve the sauce over those "noodles" and top with parmesan and kalamata olives. man alive! it's good.

new year

2012-01-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

wowza! it's been a long time! hope you had a wonderful holiday season. this has been one eventful year, to say the least. michael and i reflected on the year with a questionnaire, and my phrase that describes 2011 would be, "the Lord is good to His children." it's undeniable. i am overwhelmed when i think about all the ways He takes care of me and continues to pour His love on me day after day. we are in a new season of hope. 2012 is going to be good. do you have any resolutions? i don't have any definitive goals yet. i'm continually researching health and nutrition for our family, so i'll pursue that. i might start running. weird, since i despise running. i'd rather dance my heart out forever. we'll see about the running thing. glad to be back here!

"After all, he's not a tame lion." "No... but he is good." -chronicles of narnia

30 days

2011-11-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

22. for samson, (the chocolate lab that my brother "adopted" from us). we're so grateful he's still in the family and for john who takes such good care of him. amos LOVES samson, and vice versa.

23. for living close enough to lauren to hang out!

24. great food with my family and new friends. and nice weather to enjoy a feast out on the deck.

25. speaking of great food...i'm thankful that my mom is a great cook. we had the best gumbo the day-after with the leftover turkey.

26. traditions with my little family. putting up the christmas tree with our little boy for the first time and making memories...seeing his face when we plugged in the lights.

27. the season of advent. celebrating christ with my family and living close enough to worship with them.

28. for strength from the word of god to get through another week without michael.

29. my selfless mom. she works full-time, is working on her master's in school counseling, AND still finds time to rock my baby to sleep while i take a shower by myself. she is strong and loving, and i'm so blessed to have such an example.
30. for health. i couldn't have asked for a healthier baby boy. i often have to remind myself of this as i'm exhausted from chasing him around all day (as he breaks all the door stops off in the house and splashes in samson's water : ).

i'm thinking i should continue this thankfulness journal of sorts all year long. there is so much to be thankful for, especially for a god who brings you through the hardest seasons in life.

catching up

2011-11-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

18. for adorable new friends for amos, lily and norah!

19. for fun days at central market with my boys and my momma.

20. for a "friendsgiving" potluck with michael's hilarious co-workers.

21. for cold weather, the rain, and warm clothes to wear.

i got some awesome kalamata olives at central market. when i was pregnant, just the word brine-y (which is not really a word), thanks to my sister, totally grossed me out and turned me off from olives. i recently got the guts to try them and i don't regret it one bit.

2011-11-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

16. for beautiful music, such as sigur ros and olafur arnalds, for getting my baby to sleep better.

‎17. today, i'm thankful for art. for having a passion for art that my husband and i share, and for his job in the art world.

'The Little Owl'

1508

Albrecht Durer

2011-11-15T12:33:00.001-08:00

10. for friends, both new and old. i'm blessed.

11. for our veterans.

12. for our fellow oklahomans that are in DFW with us, austin and leslie conner!

13. grateful for the time my husband is getting to spend at home with us.

14. thankful for our neighborhood and lots of trees.

15. for the tiny little naps amos takes by himself, once in a blue moon. going on 21 minutes now...

(pic of my grandpa during his tour of vietnam) Lieutenant Colonel Thomas W. Wheat Jr. 3/10/1932 - 9/14/1970. 44 Aviation Det SS - LM - DFC - AM & 18 OLC

day 9

2011-11-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

today, i'm thankful for fall! my favorite season. i'm also thankful that amos loves the outdoors. if he's fussy, he'll usually stop the second we step outside. and he thinks the wind is funny. i love that. we played at the park on this beautiful day!

day 8

2011-11-08T14:51:00.001-08:00

today, i'm thankful for sweet baby snuggles. even if it is the only way mr. amos will sleep, i'm thankful he loves to be in his mommy's arms and nurses so well!

days of thanks

2011-11-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

thankful

1. for my sweet baby boy who brings me SO much joy and makes my heart swell. there's no feeling like this. he is perfect. i can't believe god knit him together in my womb. that still blows my mind.

2. for my loving husband. he is gracious and patient. very patient. i'm thankful for his hard work to provide for our little family.

3. for our new house. even though i'm having a hard time adjusting to change, i'm grateful for a place to call home.

4. for my family. we wouldn't make it without them. i'm so grateful for their selflessness.

5. that the loose pit bull didn't eat me and amos on our walk the other day, and for the kind stranger who led him away from us and called animal control. scariest moment of my life. thank you god for protecting us.

6. for delicious food and the passion to cook. there is a little farmer's market by our house and i love going several times a week to get fresh fruits and veggies for our meals. and amos loves riding in the little cart!

7. for my best friend, lauren. she's sweeter than peach cobbler and pretty as can be. she makes me want to be a better person. amos loves his aunt lauren.

for the porch

2011-10-11T18:47:00.001-07:00

i've never been great at carving pumpkins, so this year i think i'll paint them! i think they'd look so cute stenciled with a doily, like the top picture. hopefully i can get a few done for our new porch. which means...we're moving! just across town this time, don't worry. we found a cute, little 3 bedroom house to rent about halfway between here and dallas. we're excited to decorate again and have a fresh start to baby-proof the place!

pumpkins

weekend!

2011-10-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

so excited to spend some time with daddy, who is HOME! it's true...distance makes the heart grow fonder. but it sucks. we'll make the most of the time we have together now. oh, and my hubby came home with a full beard. he loves getting to have one again at his new job. reminds me of old times. the man i dated and married. i had never even seen michael without a beard until we had been married for like two years!

cheers to the weekend and beards!

today...

2011-10-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

i made a wonderful beef stew with cornbread muffins (gluten free), and remembered how much i love pearl onions.
i was encouraged by a friend's blog post.
i am grateful that amos took an hour-long nap.
we went on two walks.
i had an iced pumpkin spice latte (decaf, of course).
& we talked to daddy, who is currently in florida.

photo

p.s. to make the muffins gluten free, just substitute gluten free flour for the all-purpose. you can't even tell they are GF!

happy national coffee day

2011-09-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

oh boy, do i wish i could participate! i can't have an ounce of caffeine since i'm nursing amos. he's one of those babies who will stay up all night if i have coffee (or green tea, or any tea...). learned that lesson the hard way. i guess i could go for decaf, but i could really use the good stuff. i'll tell you a secret...my boy doesn't sleep.

photo

simple

2011-09-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

i'm starting to realize how much money we'll save by skipping out on most baby toys. do i think toys will spoil amos? no. i buy them and then he wants to play with things we already have. such as...a clothes basket. my cell phone (i found an old one to give him instead). remotes. the empty bum bum balm container. water bottles. and as i'm typing this he just opened the printer. i'll have to draw the line there.

he does love his sophie the giraffe and a few other toys. some of my favorite memories as a kid are of building forts out of cardboard boxes and blankets, playing hide-and-seek, climbing trees etc. but, i also remember playing barbies for hours until i got so sleepy i had to stop. i hope amos continues to be inventive during playtime!

art & amos

2011-09-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

well, michael headed to lincoln, NE last night, and went on to minneapolis and IL today. tomorrow he'll be off to the east coast. last week he took a piece by james "jamie" wyeth to pennsylvania. james wyeth is the son of andrew wyeth, artist of "christina's world," a piece you'll probably recognize. apparently the whole wyeth family was artistic. how cool.

in other news, amos is on the MOVE. he's rolling around like crazy and doing 360's on his tummy. we think crawling is in the very near future. ahhh! i'm proud and scared : )

wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'

2011-09-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

dear fall,
PLEASE COME SOON!
love,
erin

i'm doing everything in my power to help the season along. lighting fall scented candles...pretending i'm chilly as we go on morning walks, dressing amos in his man-cardigan, making chicken pot pie and pumpkin muffins, daydreaming...

i can't wait to take amos to the pumpkin patch, though none around here compare to the one we grew up with in nebraska. still, the pumpkin patch is quintessential to fall and i will find one.

tomorrow is the first day of fall. let's celebrate and pray that this season visits the south!

photo

what i'm loving

2011-09-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

goat cheese
spinach
avocados
candles
going on walks
snuggling my baby
eating outside
5 ingredient fix
baby story time
kroger
the crock pot
yes to tomatoes
dunkin' donuts decaf iced coffee

photo

donkey day

2011-09-16T08:26:00.001-07:00

amos got to meet juan valdez, our friend susan's sweet donkey. they loved each other. amos likes to pet any animal. and he laughed at the horses. thanks for letting us stop by, susan!

story time

2011-09-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

amos and i have started to attend "baby story time" each week at the library. we LOVE it. this time is designed specifically for babies. we sing songs with little props and read the same book every week. repetition is key. last week we introduced the babies (all 30 of them) with a song to the tune of "goodnight ladies." we sang:
hello amos
hello amos
hello amos
we're glad you're here today

while singing his name in the verse he looked up at me with a huge grin, i'm sure thinking, "why are all these people singing my name!?" it melted my heart and got lots of laughs around the circle.

here we are

2011-09-08T14:03:00.001-07:00

well, here we are in TX. honestly, i've been dreading this post. i don't know why. i know people appreciate openness and being real with one another. things have been really hard. so to catch up, long story short...michael lost his job in OKC, we pondered colorado for a little bit (that didn't work out), and now we're living with my family in the DFW area. michael's job search was stressful. we miss our friends and our church immensely. however, he is now employed in a job that he LOVES (as opposed to being unhappy in his position before).

he is working for a fine arts services company in dallas that stores, packages, and transports amazing works locally and around the country. he'll be gone 10-12 days a month taking these pieces to the major galleries and museums on each coast and those in between. he comes home every night with exciting stories. he's already transported a multimillion dollar piece by one of his favorites, gerhard richter.

we'll be looking for a place between here (fort worth) and dallas, to shorten michael's commute, but still be close to my family for the chunk of time he's away each month.

amos is as precious as ever. it's so fun to see him develop every day. he's so vocal and even roars at people. hilarious. this love is amazing. and there's no greater smell than a sweet baby. i want to keep it forever.

i'm moving past the grief of leaving our home in oklahoma and trying to move forward here. my mom gave me a beth moore study on the promise of security. this really struck me, "how will we ever change if everything around us stays the same? or what will ever cause us to move on to the next place He has for us if something doesn't happen to change the way we feel about where we are? god is thoroughly committed to finishing the masterpiece He started in us. and that process means one major thing: change."

now that this post is out of the way i can continue as usual, but with the goal to always be honest and real and embrace change, as hard as that may be. glad to be back!

family reunion: estes park, CO

2011-07-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

33 fun people. one big cabin. great food. talent show night. family legacy night. michael climbed a 14'er. the coolest starbucks with the prettiest view ever. amos' first flight. stood 30 ft. from a huge elk. the great outdoors. so fun.

4 months

2011-07-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

20 pounds exactly. 99th percentile for weight.
26 1/2 inches. 92nd percentile for height. he's grown 5 inches since birth. no wonder his clothes don't fit!
his doctor said he's perfect...and i agree : )

one turkey

2011-07-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

my mom has taught me the craft of frugality. i think it's exhilarating to get a great deal and make a dollar stretch far more than it should. while she was in town we found a turkey on sale at target for $6! a good thanksgiving-sized turkey (i should have noted the pounds). out of this one turkey i made about six meals plus sandwiches, and turkey broth (enough for several recipes), including these turkey enchiladas. what do you do for fun?!

chunky

2011-07-07T10:29:00.001-07:00

banana bran muffins! mom and i made these last weekend. so yummy! we made half with raisins and half with chocolate chips (my fave!).

holiday weekend

2011-07-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

we had a fun 4th of july weekend! my mom came up for amos' baby dedication at church. it was so exciting, and such a privilege to stand before our church and acknowledge these truths:
1. my child is a gift and blessing from God, an expression of His sovereign and gracious mercy to you.
2. my child was shaped in the womb by the hand of our great and glorious Creator, who is Himself the sovereign Lord over both life and death.
3. i will raise my child in a home filled with love and peace and pray fervently for his conversion. i will, with the help of God and the provision of His grace raise my child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
4. i commit and consecrate my child unto the Lord, for His service and for His eternal glory.

amos was content to chew on his hand the whole time : ) it was hard to get a good picture of us, but they took a family photo after the dedication. i'm excited to see it.

mom and i made some awesome muffins. i'll share the recipe later this week!

4th of july lunch was amazing. burgers on onion pocket buns, pasta salad with peppers and pine nuts, watermelon, and sarah's watermelonade. mmm...

amos stayed up way past his bedtime last night. i think he wanted to see the fireworks. we were able to see the big edmond fireworks show from our street, so we went out at 10 and watched with amos. he LOVED them.

hope you had a wonderful weekend!

ohhh

2011-06-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

he melts my heart. i just can't believe he'll be four months next week! he's becoming such a big boy. as much as i want him to grow up and develop normally, i also want him to stay my little baby : ) i snuggle him in my arms when he falls asleep nursing, cherishing this bond that we have. however, i know that as his mother i'm going to help his daddy mold him into a strong man, a man able to take care of his own family someday. i pray my nurturing gives him the confidence and skills to do that.

what a gift

2011-06-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

i've been thinking a lot about breastfeeding lately. i'm so enthralled at how amazing this gift from god really is. sometimes i still can't believe that i produce milk. and how awesome that it's designed specifically for amos. our milk is different and perfect for each individual child we give birth to. this milk is all he needs for a long time. we obviously get lots of comments on how huge he is already, and many are often shocked that i'm only breastfeeding him and not supplementing with anything else. i'm loving this NY times article right now, especially this quote: “It’s the oldest nutritional intervention known to our species, and it’s available to everybody..." god is good to know what we need, and the intricacies of the human body speak of his power.

p.s. if you live in OK and find yourself needing to defend your right to feed in public, here's a link to your legislation card.

tentative meal plan

2011-06-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

monday:
curried chicken with brown rice and naan

tuesday:
pancetta parmesan torte with strawberry romaine salad
(i use bacon instead of pancetta and whatever dairy is on hand, usually whole milk and 1/2 & 1/2)

wednesday:
slow-cooker spinach lasagna with roasted zucchini & squash

thursday:

a "southwestern" version of beef polenta pie and fruit salad

(cheddar instead of parm, no mushrooms or green beans, add taco seasonings, green chiles, and corn) thanks for the idea mom!

friday:
homemade pizza with chicken italian sausage and veggies

saturday:
leftovers?

sunday:
whole wheat rotini with roasted veggies (squash, zucchini, onions, tomatoes)

aren't my boys cute??

2011-06-26T11:27:00.001-07:00

faves as of late

2011-06-25T15:49:00.001-07:00

beef polenta pie
broccoli cheddar soup in the vitamix
my aunt rebecca's strawberry romaine salad:
1 cup veg. oil
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. paprika
1/4 t. white pepper
1 head romaine
1 pt. sliced strawberries
1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
1 cup walnut pieces

combine ingredients from oil to white pepper, stir or shake vigorously. dress lettuce. layer cheese, walnuts and strawberries. this dressing makes a great gift in a cute glass jar too!

other current faves:
my sweet baby boy and hubby.
being able to get online again.
zumba.
yoga.
air conditioning.

2011-06-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

2011-05-31T16:19:00.000-07:00

we're still here! our computer hasn't worked for the past two weeks, so...no posts. check out our big boy!
he's almost 3 months.
talking and smiling.
wearing 12 month clothes.
weighs over 17 lbs.
chewing on his hand all day. (and then gagging on it : )
still has old man hair. and it's very blonde!
starting to consciously grab things.

and melting our hearts, of course.

reality + congrats

2011-05-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

last thursday i drove myself and amos down to fort worth. we made pretty good time, although he cried for 45 minutes straight. he gets upset that we can't ride in the car seat with him and snuggle the whole time. on friday, we rode to big spring with mom and john for katie's graduation. amos slept most of the way, hallelujah. katie was chosen as student of the year, so she got to give one of the commencement speeches. she, of course, quoted ron burgundy (from anchorman) to the full auditorium : ) that's my sister. we're so proud of her and everything she's done in her time at howard college. she even started a recycling club (no one in west texas recycles) and became the president and secretary. katie moved back home and is going to the university of north texas this fall to finish a broadcast journalism degree.

after the graduation, i got food poisoning from something. my sweet brother took me back to the hotel while everyone else ate at a mexican restaurant and took care of amos. thankfully, he drank the bottle i had pumped. he doesn't always take a bottle very well (probably because we rarely give him one). john and katie headed back with all her stuff the next morning, and mom and i drove with amos. i was feeling much better and we took our time getting back. the rest of the weekend was fun and relaxing.

i was planning on going home later monday or tuesday. early monday morning, michael called me and said he was in an accident. it wasn't bad and he was okay, thank the lord. amos and i left shortly after he called, in case he needed the car to get to work. i was already lacking sleep so the drive didn't start off very well. during the 3 1/2 hour trip, we stopped four times and my little boy cried for over 2 hours of it. let's just say i'm never driving long distances by myself with an infant again! good thing he melts my heart and we love aunt katie! we made it home safely and we were glad daddy was alright.

what an adventure!

2011-05-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

you should know this...i am terrified of alligators, crocodiles, and sharks. so please, friends, don't invite me to swim in the lake or the ocean this summer, or on a cruise. i'll have to kindly decline.
thanks,
erin

p.s. you can add snakes to that list. did i tell you there was one in my house last year?!

what are you scared of?

today

2011-05-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

we slept in and snuggled, even though amos slept another five hour stretch last night. woo hoo!
put dinner in the crock pot: curried chicken.
went to the bank and the store to get milk.
rocked in the rocking chair. our favorite.
changed many diapers.
folded clean diapers.
and tonight...katelyn will come over for about half an hour until michael gets home. i have my postnatal pilates class! thank you, katelyn.

hope you had a wonderful mother's day! i won the "newest mom" award at church--they gave me a gift card to a local restaurant and a necklace made by women in africa. so sweet.

oh yes, and amos had his two month checkup yesterday. he weighs 15.6 pounds (not 15 and 6 oz. like i thought, even more!) and is 24 1/4 inches long! i need a "big & tall" baby store around here.

may 9th

2011-05-09T09:23:00.001-07:00

happy birthday husband and daddy...
we know you didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night, but thank you for taking care of us. you're the fastest diaper changer around and you sure do know how to get rid of those painful knots in mom's shoulder. we're proud of you for still waking up early to go work out. you make us laugh, and you're the best at the "5 S's". we love your love of fonts and all the quirky knowledge you possess. we hope you go on jeopardy someday. everyone loves your hats and your vibram five fingers. you are one of a kind. thank you for your love, care, and protection.
happy birthday!
love,
wifey & baby

photo by katelyn swanson

oh yes

2011-05-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

one of my thrifted finds today...rad boots for $4.99. the boots i've been looking for all my life. i felt like cinderella putting on her glass slipper.

my faves for baby buns

2011-05-06T13:11:00.001-07:00

i don't have a whole lot of experience yet, but i thought i'd update you on my cloth diaper favorites for now! hopefully this will help some of you mommas who are interested in getting started.

we started with the infant size bummis organic cotton diaper kit. however, the infant size only fits up to 15 pounds. our roly-poly is pushin' that at 8 weeks and grew out of the diaper covers. i should have registered for the baby size had i known he would be so big, so fast! the prefolds still fit and we LOVE them. they are super absorbent and we've only had one leak since using them (as opposed to several a day with disposables).

when we realized he just wouldn't fit into the bummis covers any longer, i ran down to our local cloth diaper store, green bambino. we are so blessed to have this in our area! the staff is knowledgeable, experienced, and so helpful. someone had given us a hand-me-down flip diaper cover, so i was in search of more. they are made by the same company as bumGenius. i got a couple flip covers, and then found out about econobum, also by bumGenius. long story short, we LOVE econobum covers and prefolds! the trial pack and day pack are the most bang for your buck, and much less expensive than other systems!

now, we use the econobum and flip covers, with the econobum prefolds and bummis prefolds. we also have a few all-in-one bumGenius 4.0's for when others watch him (not that often). some are intimidated by the cloth diapering process, but i can testify that it isn't scary at all. michael may even be faster than me at changing amos! it works for our budget and i feel good about using these diapers on my baby's precious buns.

here are some accessories we love:
charlie's soap (liquid, gallon-size)

it makes everything smell so fresh, even poopy diapers!

bum bum balm by dimpleskins naturals
it really works wonders on a red tushy.

bottoms-up baby wipes kit
we love these! however, we don't use the "dirty container" for dirty wipes. we put them in the wet bag along with the dirty diapers and use the container for some clean cloth wipes that my mom made. when we run out of one container, the other is ready to go!

even if you don't live in the OKC area, do check out green bambino. they have a great getting started sheet. you can also "like" them on facebook and ask them any of your cloth diapering questions!

happy cinco de mayo

2011-05-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

and...
Today is also "Dr. Robert A. Bradley Day"!

"Dr. Bradley helped bring 22,000 healthy babies into the world. After his retirement in 1985, the Governor of Colorado named May 5th of that year "Dr. Robert A. Bradley Day" and the American Biographical Institute named him "Man of the Decade".

Dr. Robert A. Bradley, distinguished obstetrician, celebrated author, lecturer, loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather, died Friday December 25th, 1998 in Pensacola, Florida at the age of 81."

i didn't realize it was cinco de mayo until now, but my meal planned for tonight is fitting:
beef tacos with sauteed onions and peppers, and a corn & blackbean salad

hope you enjoy your celebration...whatever it is!

p.s. don't those margarita cupcakes look good??

from the weekend

2011-05-02T13:27:00.001-07:00

a big congratulations to our dear friend kelley and her new hubby, ira! we traveled down to TX this weekend for the wedding and got to spend some time with my family too. it was wonderful.

what i love about amos

2011-04-28T14:41:00.001-07:00

the scrunchy sleepy face he makes after eating
his little dinosaur grunting noises
the fact that he gets "toe jam" AND "finger jam" even though we do bathe the boy regularly
how he loves raffi's "baby beluga"
every single one of his rolls
when he "hugs" me
his old man hair (he's still pretty bald on top!)
his strength
his sweet spirit

just to name a few. thanks for indulging me...i'm one of those moms.

photo by katelyn swanson (amos at 3 weeks)
p.s. he'll be 8 weeks on sunday! wow.

fresh from the farmers market

2011-04-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

salad night: fresh spring mix salad & emily's orzo pesto salad with fresh cherry tomatoes. the best cherry tomatoes i've ever had, and i don't even like cherry tomatoes. i think i do now. but only from the sweet little old lady at the farmers market.

emily's orzo pesto salad
1 box orzo
1 small jar of pesto
3 fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 juiced lemon
1 box cherry tomatoes
1/2 smal box feta cheese (i used chevre)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

cook orzo according to package directions. meanwhile, mix pesto, lemon juice, garlic, and parmesan cheese in a small bowl. add orzo and stir until well blended. stick in fridge to cool for at least an hour. add feta cheese and cherry tomatoes before serving.

p.s. this is great hot or cold!

happy earth day!

2011-04-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

to celebrate, i took advantage of this deal at origins! i chose the checks and balances face wash. i sure hope i love it, because amos was not up for a trip to the mall : )

tonight we're going to the good friday service at church. remembering why we can even have an earth day in the first place.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

favorites of the week = SO easy

2011-04-21T17:10:00.001-07:00

shrimp tacos with mexican rice
saute bell pepper and onion, then add shrimp. add this sauce and serve in warm corn tortillas with cheese. microwave rice in the bag, or make your own if you have more time!

slow-cooker chicken curry
i used chicken breast tenders instead of thighs, whatever salsa was in the fridge, and greek yogurt instead of sour cream. i'm sure my indian friends would scoff at this recipe, but it was so easy and seriously amazing. and i'm okay with that.

sweet

2011-04-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

how pretty is this pitcher!? i'd love to fill it with mom's sweet tea. spotted it in my southern living magazine. gotta keep my eyes open for something similar next time i go thrifting.

i love eggs

2011-04-19T12:19:00.001-07:00

the egg really is incredible. besides getting his giant genes from dad, i think amos grew so big and healthy partly due to my efforts to eat lots of eggs during pregnancy. i still love eggs, and for any meal. we tried this awesome recipe for a roasted red pepper and italian sausage frittata via closet cooking. man, was it amazing. like egg pizza! two of my faves. next time i think i may amp it up by baking it in a pie shell instead of the skillet. either way, it's great. and talk about protein!

2011-04-18T13:51:00.001-07:00

having problems with the font size in my post today, so here's a picture of me and my big boy instead!

not ashamed

2011-04-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

to admit...for dinner i'm making slow cooker beef stroganoff from the back of the soup mix box. yep, i'm making this: i do feel a little better using organic beef and whole wheat noodles. it was a long night and nap time didn't last long today. thank the lord for my crock pot. hopefully i'll get some carrots in the oven too!

today

2011-04-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

we started cloth diapers.
we slept late.
amos spit up and it came out of his nose too. that was a first. poor guy.
we changed clothes several times. and...he's wearing one of his 6-9 month outfits. crazy!
i'm making pizza and salad for dinner.
we did two loads of laundry.
i did yoga during baby's first nap.
and we can't wait for daddy to come home!

my current favorite things

2011-04-12T11:38:00.001-07:00

1. The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp
my friend, michelle, sent me the information on this and i am beyond grateful. seriously, just watch this video. it's amazing, and we can attest that it really works! we've all been sleeping much better.
2. SwaddleMe
this goes along with the 5 S's from above. amos is freakishly strong and usually wiggles his way out of the swaddle if we use a regular blanket. these are great and keep him nice and snug!
3. Boppy
i love the boppy for nursing. after holding a 13 pound baby for most of the day, a momma's arms and back can get really sore.

i probably sound like an infomercial, but i'm just really excited about what we're learning. it feels good to be successful at calming your baby, getting more sleep, and figuring out how to do this new life!

p.s. read michelle's birth story here. it's AMAZING and outrageous!

speaking of joy

2011-04-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

perseverance & joy

2011-04-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

this verse keeps coming to my mind as we're sleep deprived and learning how to meet the needs of our little boy. i'm reminding myself, and many others are encouraging me, that i was designed to be his mother and i'm more than capable to do it. i'll be memorizing this passage for my strength to get through tonight : )

consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. let perseverance finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask god, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. but when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind...blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. james 1: 2-6, 12

easy

2011-04-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

we tried my modified version of this asparagus potato pizza last night. i used a different dough, chevre instead of cream cheese, regular mozzarella, and i didn't have green onions. it was delightful, however, i think i'll try sticking to the recipe next time and getting all of the ingredients!

instead of the dough recipe recommended, i used pioneer woman's easy recipe and now i have the other half of it to use for another pizza. i'm all about preparing things ahead these days and pulling them out of the freezer since i've got a baby attached to me now. he loves snuggling in the moby while i get things done around the house.

speaking of...i just learned on the moby website that it's "national no housework day"! guess i celebrated, apart from my little load of baby laundry.

happy national no housework day, national beer day, coffee cake day, and billy holiday's birthday day!

final thoughts

2011-04-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

i thought the day would never come. i was due march 3rd, but we thought surely he would be early. our best friends had even come from germany and portland to meet amos. lauren and jake had been in okc with us a week before he arrived, waiting patiently and taking me out for fun. john was up for the weekend and michael's mom had been here since march 1st. i was totally ready for this big boy to come.

that saturday morning i was overjoyed when my water "broke." i thought i was in that 10% of women whose water breaks before going into labor. i woke michael up and we started getting ready. my brother, john, was staying with us and i could tell he was getting antsy. we wanted to stay at home as long as possible and remain calm. john now jokes that "no one taught him all the things we learned in the bradley class!" i think the fact that i was straightening my hair and sat down to eat breakfast was the final straw. but he helped us get everything ready and stayed behind to clean up before heading to the hospital.

the hours of back labor were the most pain i've ever felt. everyone who helped rub my lower back with tennis balls had sore arms afterwards. we went into it thinking michael would be my only coach, but i needed a whole village of help and so did he! i am so thankful for everyone who put up with me yelling "harder!" at them as they rubbed : )

although i had to have a c-section, which was the farthest thing from our birth plan, we know god was watching over our every decision and our safety. the bradley class prepared us to make informed decisions and try every option before the final c-section. we understood everything the nurses and our doctor told us and were able to be at peace with the change of events. i was initially disappointed upon hearing the c-section news and really scared. who wants to be cut open?? however, the nurses and my doctor were amazing. so was the anesthesiologist...gross detail: i threw up when i got to the OR, but he held a bag for me and wiped my face, meanwhile assuring me that i wouldn't feel anything (i was constantly asking if i would).

we heard our sweet boy crying within 10 minutes and i was able to watch the nurses quickly clean him and hand him to michael. they often take c-section babies to the nursery for a while before bringing them back to their mothers, but that was not the case with us. michael got to hold amos while the doctor stitched me up, and within 20 minutes i got to hold him in my arms and kiss his little head.

a small part of me was a little skeptical that he "wouldn't fit", but he was born with a red mark across his head from where he was stuck on my pelvis. i'm not happy he had to have that, but it made me feel better that we could trust our doctor and nurses and that they honored our wishes and kept us safe.

i didn't feel defeated. i am proud of everything we did to bring a healthy baby into this world and grateful for god's provision. i think if we have more kids i will try a natural VBAC. i'm thankful for the opportunity to labor naturally and for modern technology and medicine. more importantly, i'm thankful for my healthy little boy who is absolutely precious. i kiss him all day : )

(photo by katelyn swanson photography)

perspectives part II

2011-04-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

our birth story according to my mom...

hi baby amos and welcome to this world!

your daddy called me at 5:45 in the morning on saturday, march 5. i was already packed so i took a shower and got on the road to come meet you! your uncle john was already in oklahoma with your parents. he was very excited about your arrival.

i arrived at mercy hospital about 11:00. your mommy was laboring pretty hard. we all worked with your mom to relieve the pain of labor. at about 6:00pm, she was dilated to 7 cm where she stayed for quite a while.

at about 10pm, your mom asked for an epidural. she had labored for 14 hours without pain relief and was very tired. the epidural worked wonders and she was able to rest and refresh. your mom got to about 8 cm and decided to have an amniotomy. the nurses "attempted" to attach a scalp monitor. she didn't dilate very much more after her water broke, so they tried a breast pump which can cause contractions to increase. that got her to about 9 cm. they started giving her pitocin which increases contractions. she was finally dilated to 10 but you just weren't going to be able to come out on your own. you were face-up and too big for your little momma. dr. shanbour had been letting your mom try for as long as possible, but finally at about 6am sunday they got ready for a c-section. they whisked your mommy and daddy to the OR and you came into this world at 6:45am on sunday, march 6. they wheeled you and your mom to her room and we got to see you both for just a minute. what a precious baby! we were all so excited to see you. that's when i was so happy--my baby, erin, was doing okay and her baby, you, were absolutely perfect.

i got to stay with you until you were 10 days old and i loved every minute of it--well maybe not when you pooped all over my pants leg : )

love you so much,
grandma shaw

perspectives

2011-04-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

our birth story according to michael...

saturday, march 5th

5:45am: water breaks
we both shower (being calm and collected, thanks to our months of preparation), while john starts freaking out about us getting to the hospital.
we arrive around 7:30am, make it to triage, and find out that she's 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced. we're in labor!
we make it to our labor/delivery room and meet our day nurse, sharon. we're the only ones in labor on our wing.
contractions are about a minute long and 3-4 minutes apart for the next several hours.
erin likes going through contractions standing up while hanging in my arms.
she labors on her side, on her hands and knees, over pillows, with the yoga ball, sitting up, etc., but nothing helps the back labor. amos is "sunny-side-up" and won't flip over!
most of the afternoon is spent, as john put it, "pushing tennis balls through her back." me, john, susan, lauren, and even our night nurse, kyla, took turns trying to relieve the pain.
by the way, we were progressing so nicely that they set up the delivery table around 4pm saying, "this will go very quickly once her water breaks" (apparently, the earlier fluid was just a high leak).
eventually, her pain was so much that she couldn't relax at all. we opted for an epidural around 10pm. the anesthesiologist quickly became erin's favorite doctor.
for the remainder of the evening, we rested, got on FB, and erin did her hair and makeup. we gradually made it to 10 cm at around 5:30am (sunday) after getting an amniotomy (breaking the water).
she tried to push, but his head would only bump into erin's pelvis. at around 6am we found out a c-section was the only option since he was not going to fit.
we were quickly prepped and sent off to the OR. the procedure went by very quickly, and amos was out in about 10 minutes! we both started bawling when he started to cry.
9 lbs. 2 oz and 21.5 inches long! no wonder he didn't fit. APGAR score was 9/9--a perfect little (big!) boy. amos samuel king. my son. and i love him.

he's here!

2011-03-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

amos samuel king
born sunday, march 6th, 2011 6:45am
9 lbs. 2 oz. 21.5 in

pregnancy favorites

2011-02-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

this pea in the pod shirt (i have about 10, given to me by the momma of one of my kids at school!)

cuties

katie's toms that i'm borrowing

burt's bees "mama bee belly balm"

and...my stretchy denim skinny jeans from old navy. unfortunately, i wore them too much and they saw their final day last month. and they are no longer sold on the old navy maternity page. good thing i have several pairs of trusty yoga pants to get me through to the end.

speaking of the end...in theory, it's next week! i'll be 39 weeks on thursday and i see my doctor tomorrow. i'm so ready to hold those precious little baby buns in my arms. could be any day now!

2011-02-14T18:48:00.001-08:00

happy valentine's day!

i've got big plans tonight...ironing. really, that's big for me. my valentine is off working hard again. we went out friday night for sushi and a screening of this film by michael's current favorite band:

check it out.

"mom" look

2011-02-10T18:10:00.001-08:00

UO's cooperative shirtdress

philosophy's "the color of grace"

UO's t-strap skimmer

galligan o'malley's lace nursing tank

covergirl's natureluxe gloss balm

i'm 37 weeks today! i started having weekly appointments as of last week. everything is going great. my blood pressure and weight, fetal movement, etc. has been on track since the beginning. i'm so very grateful. i did lose 3 pounds this week, which my dr. says is normal towards the end. i'm okay with that, especially since my tummy seriously looks like a basketball and our big boy isn't lacking any fat. i'm having lots of braxton-hicks contractions and getting tired more easily these days. trying to sleep takes a little longer than it used to...sometimes i think amos has broken my ribs with his donkey kicks! his favorite time to go crazy is my bedtime. i'm thinking he'll be a squiggly little boy. he always knows when his dad is around. michael gets a reaction every time he touches my tummy. so sweet to see that connection already. we can't believe he'll be in our arms soon.

i've been eying these things i imagine myself wearing post-baby. although it may be a little bit, i really can't wait to wear normal clothes again. and i thought i should start wearing eye shadow so i don't look 12 years old anymore. and maybe even a non-sheer lip gloss or lipstick. ready to take amos out on the town!

snow day baking

2011-02-09T12:58:00.001-08:00

the snow came again! not as much as predicted, but enough to cancel school and work for us. slept in way longer than necessary and made pioneer woman's famous cinnamon rolls this afternoon. who says you have to eat them for breakfast?? i bookmarked this recipe in her cookbook about a year ago, and i'm so glad the weather gave us some time to make them today. let me just say, they are ridiculously good. the subtle hint of maple in the frosting really does it.

we're also...
prewashing cloth diapers to get them ready for use,
finalizing hospital bags/lists etc.,
enjoying our last days of alone time together.

hope you got to enjoy a snow day too!

celebration

2011-02-08T14:43:00.001-08:00

happy birthday, dear mom

we celebrate you because:

you get up while it is still dark, and provide food for your family;
you set about your work vigorously, your arms strong for your tasks;
you open your arms to the poor and extend your hands to the needy.
you are clothed with strength and dignity, and can laugh at the days to come;
you speak with wisdom, faithful instruction on your tongue.
you watch over the affairs of your household and do not eat the bread of idleness;
your children arise and call you blessed.
"many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the lord is to be praised.

(adapted from proverbs 31)

thank you for leading me with strength and gentleness. for showing me how to love the lord and lean on him. i pray i'll be a mom like you. i can't wait for my son to meet you. happy birthday, dear mom.

i love you,
erin

photo here

the super bowl?

2011-02-07T13:16:00.001-08:00

long story short: i have been pretty sick the past two weeks. virus, sinus infection, ear infection etc. my dear husband took me to the urgent care place more than once, and to the ER (in a snow storm). i'm much better now and recovering to get ready for this sweet baby who's comin' oh so soon! fortunately some of my sick days were snow days. oklahoma got hit hard if you haven't heard, and we're getting more tonight. woo hoo...maybe a snow day spent not sick : ) so since i was recovering sunday night, and my sweet husband is a saint, i decided to make him a super bowl meal. i was so proud of myself. really--i've never cooked for a sports event. while i will never understand football, nor many other sports for that matter, i love seeing my husband in pure bliss...celebrating the packer's win with a full tummy.

the menu:
little slider cheeseburgers (white castle style)
carrots (to make myself feel better about the nutritional value of the meal)
jalapeno popper dip w/blue corn chips (my mom's potluck specialty)

Jalapeno Popper Dip
via closet cooking
(makes 4 snacks sized servings)

Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (room temperature)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (grated)
1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano
1 (4 ounce) can sliced jalapenos (pickled)
2 jalapeno peppers (chopped, optional)
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano

Directions:
1. Mix the cream cheese, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, parmigiano reggiano and jalapenos in a bowl and pour into a baking dish.
2. Mix the panko bread crumbs and parmigiano reggiano and sprinkle over the dip.
3. Bake in a 375F oven until bubbling on the sides and golden brown on top, about 10-20 minutes.

a time to keep

2011-02-04T16:14:00.000-08:00

we made the decision to give samson to john, as his own. samson is having the time of his life and we so appreciate all the love john has poured into him. here they are hiking and camping near austin. samson has found his soul mate. as much as we'll miss him, we feel better about where he is...getting all the attention he needs as we focus on our growing family.

a time to be born

2011-02-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

seems like i've got a lot of catching up to do on here. while the past few weeks have been really tough, we have been so blessed as well. here's a glimpse of the three showers we've been honored by:

#1 at the steele's in TX

#2 at bibi's here in edmond

#3 thrown by friends at work

a time for everything

2011-02-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

july 10, 1932 - january 15, 2011
there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...
eccl. 3.1

our sweet friend, joe, passed away last month. joe was absolutely precious to us, like a grandfather who genuinely cared. his memorial service was a celebration of his character. we were so blessed to know him and i thank God that our paths crossed. i'm struggling with the fact that joe won't meet our baby boy, which he was so excited about, but i feel he'll be watching and celebrating with us from heaven. thank you for your prayers, friends.

p.s.

2011-01-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

if you're in the market for a mobile, don't get this one i talked about. it's made of paper, and i just don't pay $26 for something that we can make ourselves, out of paper. so we returned it. i suppose i thought those cute birds were made of wood since the description didn't say. let me know if you find any cool non-plush/non-cliche/non-paper, budget-friendly mobiles soon!

thanks : )

nursery inspiration

2011-01-11T19:33:00.001-08:00

01. print 02. crib 03. curtain fabric

progress

2011-01-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

baby boy is growing rapidly and will be here so soon! i'll be 33 weeks on thursday, but at my appointment last week we were measuring about 2 weeks ahead. ahh! we're ready to meet him, when he's ready to meet us, of course. however, i could use a little more time to prepare things. we definitely made some progress on baby's room this weekend. michael painted everything and the room looks so fresh and clean now. we've got prints matted and framed, all ready to go up, including some of his daddy's own work. we're aiming to foster a deep appreciation for art at a young age : ) we'll be in fort worth next weekend for a shower, so we're going on an IKEA run for the last few things--including the crib. and yes, we have a back-up plan in case we go into labor there. oh, and we ordered this rad mobile!

one more thing...baby's name is:
amos samuel king

eat the rainbow

2011-01-03T16:55:00.000-08:00

simple ratatouille
adapted (a lot) from rachael ray
serves 4-6

ingredients:
2 T. EVOO
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped or grated
1 jar tomato/pasta sauce of choice (i use newman's own organic tomato basil)
salt & pepper
2 small yellow squash, thinly sliced
2 small zucchini, thinly sliced
1 eggplant, thinly sliced
4 red potatoes (or 2 yukon gold), thinly sliced
3-4 sprigs thyme leaves (or dried thyme)
grated parmesan

how to:
1. preheat oven to 425.
2. heat olive oil in skillet on med-high. add onion and cook until tender and golden. (add in garlic just before onions are done.)
3. pour tomato sauce into a 9x13" baking dish and incorporate onion/garlic mixture.
4. place veggies over the sauce in an upright, alternating, spiral pattern. (if you end up with extra veggies, just stick them in where you can!)
5. sprinkle with thyme and S&P. drizzle with EVOO.
6. cover with parchment paper and bake for 45 minutes.
7. remove parchment paper, top with grated parmesan, and broil until golden brown.

feel great about what you're eating!

fun

2011-01-01T20:13:00.001-08:00

remember the super secret surprise i painted for michael? here it is! a set of lips + mustache mugs. i had a theme going with the beard/mustache stuff this year.

and this is one of my wonderful birthday presents from my mom--a really nice new iron and full-size ironing board! i had been using a tabletop board and a $7 iron i got when i went to college all this time. now that michael has a "suit and tie" job i do a lot of ironing. thanks to my mom i don't dread it anymore, AND his clothes look 100% better!

what do you get excited about??

silly scenes from christmas

2010-12-28T18:22:00.001-08:00

the fam...all packed up, headed for OK! (samson had "the" surgery, note the cone. poor guy!)

her onesie glows in the dark.

john LOVES flashlights. all kinds.

remember this hat i wanted to get michael? my friend found it on ebay for me! he got his beard back for christmas.

john really likes his new shop-vac. katie will always be the guinea pig.

michael and i joined the vibram five-finger club!

hope you had a wonderful christmas with your family! it was awesome to be in our own home to celebrate this year. i'm so thankful that my family trekked up here to see us!

in other news, katie left for russia today (keep her and the rest of the team in your prayers). my hubby took me to big truck tacos for my birthday dinner tonight, and then cuppies & joe for dessert. we both had a long day at work, so my birthday wish is to go to bed early! oh, and in two months (give or take a few days or weeks) we are having a baby boy...wow.

p.s.

2010-12-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

did i tell you samson has been on vacation? he's in texas with john and katie, training...dog whisperer style. and let me tell you, he's a different dog! he obeys AND behaves. and he loves to swim and chase ducks. this video is some of his progress from last week. he can even heel on walks now without a leash! we're so grateful for john and katie's hard work!

new holiday

2010-12-20T16:58:00.000-08:00

there are a few holidays coming up...christmas, my bday, new years...but there is a new holiday in our house that you probably don't know about. it's called "michael's day." it's december 31st (aka new year's eve), and it's not his birthday. just a day to do whatever he wants, ALL day. no hubby favors, no chores, no work, etc.

he's requested a massage and i got him an appointment today-check. other than the massage, he plans to play guitar (and probably eat chips in the bathtub while reading lord of the rings...something he loves to do, don't tell him i told you!). i think he's cute.

my hard-working hubby more than deserves this day. seriously, i don't know how he so lovingly deals with me and my crazy, emotional, pregnant state. let me be honest with you--i cried last night when i couldn't find the tape to wrap a present! i know...

so if you're friends with him on facebook, stop by and wish him a happy "michael's day!" on december 31st.

for lauren

2010-12-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

at last

2010-12-09T17:45:00.001-08:00

well, i finally got around to getting my pottery fired. this bowl held our keys, sunglasses, etc. by the front door for about a year before i thought about adding the finishing touches. fortunately for me, we had our work party at the house of clay and painted pottery together. perfect opportunity to take my year-old bowl to be completed! i had forgotten what colors i even used. what a pleasant surprise to get it back all glossy and ready for some fruit! at the party i painted some super secret items for michael...will reveal after christmas.

p.s. i love clementines more than i can say.

blessings

2010-12-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

on saturday my lovely friend, leslie, hosted a baby shower for me! it was wonderful...friends from all facets of life came together to bless me and baby.

cute "baby king" cupcakes by leslie

leslie & me

lindley and tevin

jenn, katelyn, & alli

kristin, megan, & emily

miranda, tracy, & kristen

miranda, obviously thrilled to play the "baby food game"

i guessed 2 out of 4...fyi: don't ever buy mac & cheese baby food.

baby boy got some adorable things, and everyone went in to get us the bummis diaper kit we registered for! now we're set on a large portion of our cloth diapering needs. i'm beyond excited and thankful! thank you again, friends.

fun finds

2010-12-02T20:25:00.001-08:00

oh, how i wish i could get this cap for michael! via a cup of jo

loving this matryoshka shower curtain from UO and this photo mobile for baby!

tis' the season

2010-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

to get crafty! i can't wait til' friday. michael has the night off, so we'll trim the tree, make garlands and a wreath, and he'll indulge me and my DIY antics. today at school i found the perfect prickly things to put on our garland. the kids helped me gather a huge bag of them. i felt like tom sawyer. is that bad? hey, they had fun and no one got bit (fyi, biting is an issue with two year olds). i'd say it's a win for everyone : )

catch up

2010-11-28T20:08:00.000-08:00

01. i had a blast seeing my sister's acting debut. she was, of course, hilarious. i'm so proud of her!
02. samson has received some "dog whisperer" training from john. he's doing a lot better already. that big puppy packs a powerful punch.
03. we enjoyed thanksgiving with my family in texas.
04. got to hang out with our "russia" friends and reminisce. i'm obviously too pregnant to go at christmas, but katie gets to go!
05. looking forward to putting our christmas tree up! (haven't quite had time yet.) my family is coming here for christmas this year so our tree will get some extra love.
06. our bradley classes are going well. we love everything we're learning, and "labor rehearsals" start next week!
07. baby is bigger than an english cucumber now, over 14 inches. sometimes you can see my stomach jump : )
08. mom sent us home with chicken enchilada soup and turkey soup. i'm thankful for the help with meals this week!
09. we start our yummy advent calendar on wednesday. check out this festive one, above.
10. our endeavors to create a nursery continue!

french cookies are delightful

2010-11-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

it was one of those days...one that called for a refreshing beverage and two tiny macarons from forward foods. a nice little pick-me-up on my lunch break. tonight i plan to go on a long walk, do some yoga, and release some endorphins.

thankful

2010-11-10T20:22:00.000-08:00

some reasons i'm thankful for my husband:
01. he works extra hard to provide for his growing family.
02. he actively seeks the lord.
03. he helps me and my big belly get out of bed.
04. he's hilarious.
05. he's a wonderful cook.
06. he's kind and compassionate towards everyone.
07. he appreciates me.
08. he's a connoisseur, of many things.
09. he's a wonderful artist and designer.
10. he is passionate about life.

quick

2010-11-09T16:46:00.001-08:00

my mom accidentally sent me a subscription for "good housekeeping" among others she ordered for me, but meant to send it to herself. instead, i get it every month, look through it and then take a stack to her when we go to texas. i always find fabulous recipes, most of which are quick and healthy. i am all about the quick and healthy recipes these days. on the days when michael works two jobs, we have about twenty minutes together before he has to dash off. so i've been cooking dinner the night before and heating it up right when i get home from work the next day. voila! my man gets to eat a hot meal before he works his booty off again. do try this simple recipe for shrimp and spicy tomatoes!

(p.s. i just used the regular cous cous i had on hand instead of israeli cous cous.)

baby boy

2010-11-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

things are getting more real, and this baby is getting huge. i realize i'm short, but goodness, he's gotta find somewhere to squiggle so i can breathe! we sure do love him already. he likes to kick the hardest right when we get in bed, showing off for his daddy. the "baby" folder on my browser is overflowing with ideas!

1. backpack 2. keep it simple 3. onesie

random halloween

2010-10-31T16:32:00.001-07:00

well...happy halloween! our city decided to trick-or-treat last night, and let me tell you, i was prepared. this is the first year we've actually been home to pass out candy, and boy was i ready. michael carved a cute jack-o-lantern and i piled up the candy bowl. then we waited...and waited. not even ONE trick-or-treater came by all night! i was devastated. meanwhile however, we enjoyed watching the world series, made this awesome curried potatoes and chickpeas recipe, got a chunk of baby's registry started, and relaxed! next year i'll have my own little goblin, so i'm not bitter anymore ; )

fall

2010-10-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

we're already loving this season...as of late:

great vacation in new hampshire,
michael is liking his new job,
he made our girl's group a fabulous apple pie with the ones we picked in maine,
i had a half day today for parent/teacher conferences!
baby boy is growing rapidly,
i have maternity clothes to wear to accommodate him,
we've made chili and cornbread,
the rangers are beating the yankees (great for my red sox fanatic husband),
samson loves the weather so much he won't come in!

new hampshire #3: glen ellis falls

2010-10-18T18:47:00.001-07:00

we also had the privilege to go to white mountain national forest, to see glen ellis falls. i loved the sound of the water and the moss on the rocks. michael and his dad climbed down on the boulders in the water to get shots of the "bigger picture." no one fell in : )

new hampshire #2: the coast

2010-10-18T18:14:00.001-07:00

loved the coast! ventured out on a scenic drive to cape elizabeth. of course, we went to the lobster shack (pronounced "lobsta" shack). i really perfected my new england accent during our trip ; ) the water was blue and beautiful. it was chilly, but my man kept me warm. he also taught me the history of several lighthouses in the northeast. the ocean sure does scare me, unfortunately, but i love taking in the sights and smells.

font appreciation

2010-10-12T18:35:00.001-07:00

did you see this on design sponge?! michael was ecstatic when he saw it. maybe it will go in baby's room...

new hampshire #1

2010-10-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

we arrived here saturday! since then, we've...
01. been blessed by a small surprise shower at the king's church
02. enjoyed a new england boiled dinner
03. slept in late
04. walked around some local shops (including a consignment maternity store where i got some great stuff!)
05. gone on a scenic drive to nearby maine
06. picked apples at a beautiful orchard (and strawberries! they're still alive!)
07. picked up a pumpkin whoopie pie for michael
08. relaxed!

i'll keep you updated!

it's a boy!

2010-09-28T17:31:00.001-07:00

baby king is a boy! we're thrilled. we had a feeling, and it was right. i know these pictures are a little hard to see, but the top is a profile and the bottom is clearly the proof of a boy : )

weekend bliss

2010-09-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

oh, this weather! i'm absolutely loving it. i think i was even a little chilly walking out of the house to go to church this morning. i even wore a light sweater. i may be in heaven.

we have pizza night about once a week. i know i've shared this recipe, but it's always good. last night we added mozzarella, bacon, sauteed onions, artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, and spinach. it's a new favorite.

can hardly wait til' tuesday! hopefully baby cooperates : )

we embarked on a house-organizing adventure this weekend. we'll eventually move into our guest room and our room will become the nursery. until then, we've got a lot of consolidating and sorting to do!

planning to plant tulip and daffodil bulbs and mums this week. yay fall!

photo here

2010-09-20T16:51:00.000-07:00

01. michael got the job! woo hoo! god is so good.

02. have you seen this video (above)??? oh heavens to betsy...i love it more than i can say. can i tell you that i've been practicing? i think more people should tap dance with their hands and use that rad wallpaper.

03. this is me. 16 1/2 'ish weeks. this wednesday i'll be 17. is baby a boy or girl? we find out on the 28th! what do you think? lots of people have their suspicions just based on how i'm "carrying."

nastya

2010-09-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

pray for our family in russia. our girl, nastya, passed away yesterday from a brain tumor. this sweet smile was hard to capture on camera. she loved making us chase her to snap a shot, so we always had to be extra sneaky. she understood more english than she let on and had quite the sense of humor. she took great care of her little sister, kristina. we can't imagine not seeing her little grin from around the corner next time we visit. i know she rests with god in his arms, which is so comforting.

we love you, nastya.

update from the weekend

2010-09-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

01. this guy's beard is gone, and it's throwin' me for a loop. (he has an interview for a beard-free job tomorrow. keep him in your prayers!)
02. we went to the green bambino again for a sidewalk sale and to gather more research on cloth diapers. we met a woman who has seven kids and is an expert. she was very helpful, and i got a moby wrap for baby!
03. i enjoyed a nice walk in the park saturday morning. bring on fall!
04. got michael a rad shirt for 75 cents at st. mary's rummage sale, and then my prenatal workout videos at the library + this book.
05. we led preschool worship this morning. i love those funny kids : )

this week i'm reminding myself of something our pastor says..."what is impossible for a god with genesis 1 on his resume?"

p.s. we're visiting michael's parents in NH for a week in october! we're so excited to go during fall.

he means business

2010-09-09T18:01:00.001-07:00

and his business is destruction. good thing he's cute and funny.