T.G.I.F.

One morning as the boys were sitting on the couch, Judah noted that one of the van lights was "on." I checked, and it was simply the sun reflecting off one of the mirrors within the light's compartment -- very bright! I explained what it was and that you shouldn't stare at things that are so bright or it could hurt your eyes. I also told them that we shouldn't stare at the sun either because it could "burn" your eyes and you wouldn't be able to see anymore. Fast forward to after nap time... For some reason, Judah was summarizing my earlier teaching about not staring at the sun. I took the opportunity to to teach the boys that when someone can't see, they are called "blind." Judah said that when he opens his eyes really wide, he is blind. I corrected him and said that was "blurry" and not blind. I had them shut their eyes and said that when you are "blind," you can't see anything but darkness -- no light, shadows, shapes, etc. Judah popped his eyes open and said, "OH! So Daddy must have stared at the sun and gotten blind!" Ha!! Then I had to launch into explaining that, yes, Daddy can't see "anything" without his glasses, but he's not blind.

As I was about to throw away a chicken carcass while cleaning up from dinner, I said aloud what I was doing. The boys were in the kitchen and asked what a "car-ah-cuhs" is. I brought them over to the cutting board and explained that it's basically the skeleton of the chicken we ate for dinner, that it's the bones of a chicken. Judah: "The booooones?? Oh. So chicken comes from a chicken." Congratulations, son! :-)

Most people who know our family know which one of my sons can tend to be mischievous. If you call out for Elijah and he doesn't answer, you'd better find him fast. I went upstairs for maybe five minutes to put a basket of clothes on my bed. Came back down and saw Judah where I'd left the boys, but no sign of Elijah. "Elijah? ..... Elijah, where are you?" Still nothing. It was kind of eerie because usually there are sounds or signs of where he is, but I couldn't figure it out. So I walked around until I got all the way into the kitchen. There he was, hunkered as far into the refrigerator corner as a human can possibly be with the [cutest] big-eyed gasp-she-found-me expression on his face... and a huge chipmunk cheek. "What are you eating?" Silence. "Elijah, WHAT are you eating??" My mind was frantically coursing though what I may have left within reach on the counter -- but there was nothing. All sweets were out of reach. "Elijah, open your mouth." A huge ball of chewed up cheese was inside. "CHEESE??" He shook his head slowly as he continued trying to chew it all. I HAD to smile. Matter of fact, I giggled a little. Here was the classic hand-in-the-cookie-jar moment. And it was cheese. I asked him where he got it from, and he pointed to the meat/cheese drawer. I opened the trash and found the wrapper neatly laid inside. This kid knew exactly what he wanted and how to hide it. At least it was cheese, I guess. Good protein and calcium. :-) I asked him if he was hungry, and he pitifully said yes. "Sweetie, if you're hungry, just ask!"

Monday Meditations: Getting One Thing Straight

I got a very nice message from a dear college friend the other day. She's in a bit of a rough patch with a brood of little Warriors to raise as well as a new pregnancy complete with the fun symptoms. :-P Here's part of what she said...

So, I have a question for you! How do you do it all? I see all of your blog posts, menus, laundry tips, etc. and think...wow, I wish I was as talented as Dawn! I am a pretty organized person, but I just feel like you have it together so much better.

Let's get one thing straight... I. do. NOT. have. it. together. :-)

The problem with the virtual world is that we can pick and choose what we let others see. Granted, you can do that face to face with someone as well. But, ah, with the virtual world, editing of self is endless! Who in their right mind would post "I yelled at my son today just because he wouldn't go up the stairs when I told him to" or "I ate chips the other afternoon when I wasn't truly hungry" or "I was disgruntled when my husband said I couldn't get a new hamper for the boys' room" or "I napped for an hour and a half rather than a quick cat nap and then taking care of responsibilities" (See, four imperfections right off the top of my head...and there's a lot more I could post!) No, most of us, except for a few rare jewels of honesty, choose to post the tips, the funnies, the pictures, the Bible verses, and so on. Sure paints a pretty picture, huh?

I'd like to share my response to my sweet friend to help paint, not an ugly or pretty picture, but a PROPER picture...

Girl, there are SO many things I need to improve upon. What you see on my blog or FB is by God's grace, whether I learned it through Home Ec, other women or resources, or figured it out along the way.

I fail EVERY day. Misplaced priorities, laziness, anger/impatience with my boys... I could give you a laundry list of failures. I think we're only on week 7 or so of our preschool. And it's been 6 MONTHS since we started. :-P Laundry always piles up. Dusting happens maybe once a month. Bathrooms are cleaned every 2-3 weeks (maybe?). Menu planning is a chore -- ugh. I have good intentions to do things after bedtime, but once I sit to nurse Eden one last time, my body hits the "I'm actually sitting down and now I'm tired" wall.

So now that I've blown holes in how you apparently view me... ;-)

If I may borrow an old adage: Those who fail are those who fail to try.

And to add to that, we can only try and keep trying by God's strength. He's promised not to give us anything He won't also give us the tools and grit to handle. Very humbling to think of all He's blessed us with and then look at the job we are (or aren't) doing. We've been given amazing men to love, support, and aid in this life. We've been charged to raise human beings -- keep them alive and healthy as well as guide them spiritually to the Throne of Salvation. And if that wasn't enough responsibility, tack on home management, meal management, clothes management, cleaning, doc appointments, church stuff, etc. Sheeh! Almost seems like we've been set up to fail.

And yet God gave it all to us. Therefore, we CAN handle it. But only in HIS strength. Can't stress that enough for the both of us. By being His daughters, we're set up for success rather than failure. We just have to choose to take what is already there! (Wow, I think I'm preaching to myself!)

My mom has always told me "Just do the next thing" when I'm having a rough time physically or emotionally. This is definitely just a season for you. One that is well worth it since you're [insert your own personal struggle here]! Do what you can, ask for help, and let go of the rest. As long as your family is alive and healthy, that's what matters! People, including yourself, are more important than folded laundry or clean windows.

Let me raise my glass of lukewarm water while in my wrinkled shirt and spit-up, snotty jeans as I say: "Here's to wives and moms -- may we remember that our Father has set us up for success and not failure. We just have to choose to do it all for Him and that will put success in our grasp!"

T.G.I.F.

Seems like Judah takes the cake for this week's TGIF collection...

While discussing what we were going to do after dinner, Judah came up with his own idea. "We should watch a movie and have something that starts with a 'P'," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "It's made with corn and starts with 'pop'." Gee. I wonder what it could be!! It was quite tickling to Matt & I.

Judah went into the bathroom one morning and closed the door. I heard celebration, then he came dancing out of the bathroom, his footies unzipped. "I have some happy neeeeeeews......I'm DRY!" There's one for your marketing, Huggies Overnights.

When Matt gets in the kitchen, usually good things happen. I had a bad headache one afternoon (I think my eyes are showing more signs of aging and need visual aid more than I care to admit), so he made French toast and eggs. I should add that when he gets in the kitchen, he also usually tries to be creative. Sometimes it works...and, well, you know. There was that bacon disaster on Mother's Day a couple years ago... Anyway, he decided he was going to chop up frozen seasoned French fries and mix them in with the scrambled eggs. I protested several times, not wanting anything to be wasted in what I thought was a crazy idea headed for failure. Ok. It was GOOOD! We called it "French Dinner" - French Eggs and French Toast. Here's the funny part... When Matt put Judah's plate on the table, Judah took one look at it and said, "It looks like a junkyard." ::stunned silence from his parents:: What did you say? "It looks like junkyard eggs." I don't even remember if Judah ate them all. But we're callin' them Junkyard Eggs from now on. :-) (Elijah picked his French frie bits out of his eggs.)

We had our first big (and close) thunders of this year a few moments ago. I told the boys that they could get in my bed with me for a few minutes until it passed and then they could finish their nap. I had left my computer open with the radar up, so when they came to my bed they saw it. Having grown up in a Southern state, I'm used to the drill of watching the skies and checking the radar. I think my boys, in their short little lives, have already learned that drill. "Oh, the radar is up!" I was showing them how the storm was moving and where we were. One of them asked where it was moving, and I motioned up the USA coast. Judah said with a hand gesture, "Is it moving northeast?" ::stunned:: Uh...I...uh...well, yes. HOW did you know that?? "Because they say it on the news." Whew, ok. I was about to be very afraid of his smarts if he knew the direction just because. ;-)

Back to nap time!

Life Ring

This is the poem my hubby wrote, referenced in the previous Tippy Tuesday post...

When the towels are needin' foldin',

And there's kiddies runnin' round,

I'll toss me wife a life ring,

To ensure she doesn't drown.

But who would get a life ring,

In the middle of the sea,

Throw it back onto the ship

And say "You didn't toss like me?"

Tippy Tuesday: Hubz in the Kitchen

My Hubby once wrote a really cute poem for me that was a call for me to accept his help even in things I want done my own way. It's been in the back of my brain on several occasions since then, and my own mother has brought it up to me when I needed to be reminded of the principle. The push of the poem is for me to accept a life ring -- help -- when it is offered, whether it is thrown my way or his. I'll post the poem when I can find it...

I know for stay-at-home-moms (and even most working moms), one of our "realms" is meal management and our main office is the kitchen. Some husbands are 5-star chefs, others don't know what a spatula is used for -- or even what it might look like. Then there are those husbands that are Renaissance men. These men can be taught just about anything or are just creative enough to at least semi-successfully do what they put their minds to. My Hubz is that kind of a man. I know that if he had more experience in the kitchen and learned a few things, he would be a great chef (including the creative bent he has). Actually, there are a few dishes he's been better at than I. Usually the simple things like a fried egg. It must have taken me a year or more to figure out how to do it just right! Quite frustrating to one who holds a Home Ec degree. :-P Anyway, what happens when Chef Mom is unable to cook dinner? Some use it as an opportunity (or excuse) to have pizza, Chick-fil-A, or whatever. But for those who are trying to watch the budget carefully (and trying to buy a house), Hubz has to step up to the plate.

And Chef Mom needs to let go and take that life ring.

Good things happen when my Hubby gets in the kitchen. And I'd never know it if I didn't "let" him every once in a while. (Be sure to check out this weeks T.G.I.F.)

So my tip for today is to remember that you and your husband are partners in life. Yes, we each have our roles in the family -- bread winner, home manager, etc. But marriage is a partnership in which the roles have the ability to be fluid. So let it flow! Help your husband in his "roles" when he is unable; learn from him how to do his jobs. And let your husband help you in your roles...and be willing to teach him how to do it. To that I will add... be patient. ;-) And, in the end, be willing to let the t-shirts be folded "wrong" until you do the laundry again or to let your kids eat scrambled eggs made without milk for once.

Take that life ring when it's thrown to you...and say "Thank you!"

TGIF

The boys have been hungrier lately. Breakfast this morning consisted of cheerios with banana, more cheerios, then scrambled eggs. While I was trying to finish cooking mine and Matt's eggs/toast, Judah said, "Mommy, you are a good cook. Since you're a good cook, you should work at a restaurant... like Chick-fil-A!" Wow, thanks for having such high aspirations for your mother. ;-)

Tippy Tuesday: Cheating the Foaming Soap Dispenser

It has irked me for a while that you have to use "special" soap with the [Brand Name] foaming soap dispensers. Not cost effective! And yet, those pumps are so perfect for little hands because the lather gets into the nooks and crannies better than regular soap that has to be foamed up manually (which takes time that little boys are not always willing to give). Plus, foam is so much more fun for kids (and adults?!) than regular soap. So, with yet another dispenser emptied, I thought I'd try something. Never know unless you try, huh?

I mixed our bulk handsoap with water, maybe 1/3 soap to 2/3 water. Or close to half and half. Somewhere in there. Shook it a little to distribute. We're going on day 3 of perfect use! Woo hoo!

T.G.I.F.

Oh boy. We've come to the little kid stage of hilarium. Judah has recently discovered his comedic skills with knock-knock jokes. Here's a few I've heard (I'm sensing a theme...and I have no idea where it's coming from):

Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Banana, why are you painting your toes when you're too close to the fire with a big fan? It will hurt you and spit you up.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who? Banana, why are you going to paint an ear when you are going to be jailed on a sailed while you're on a furnace?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Boo hoo. Boo hoo who? Boo hoo, why are you going to light a candle on the furnace?

Just a cute little thing Eden did: I had just eaten a small brownie before I picked her up. As soon as she smelled my breath, she whipped her head around and just stared at my mouth. And stared and stared, contemplating. Hmm. Perhaps the female love of chocolate is a predisposition we are born with? ;-)

The Wonderful World of Homemade Babyfood

My dear friend Jaclyn is about to enter that amazing stage of feeding her Lil' Love solids, so she is seeking ideas from those who have gone before. She had the great idea for me to just make a post out of the email I sent to her! I feel as though I've come a long way from my first couple posts on making Eden's babyfood. This third crack I've had at doing homemade babyfood has by far been the easiest and smoothest and at the same time has been full of variety and freshness. I feel sorry for my boys! Momma just had to live and learn -- you just happened to come before the "third time's a charm" success! :-P

Most Helpful Book (you MUST get! ...in my opinion, anyway): Top 100 Baby Purees

Food Mills:

KidCo Manual Food Mill - I have found this one to be a breeze and like the consistency it produces better than the electric. It does take some elbow grease for larger batches of food; but, hey, a little muscle tone is always a good thing! It can travel anywhere and do a single serving all the way up to a big batch.

KidCo Electric Food Mill - I used this with both my boys. It was great (but now I know the manual is even greater!). Whips up babyfood in a jiffy but doesn't strain out hulls and such like the manual mill can. It lasted through both boys and a friend who borrowed it for her child, but it shorted out the first time I tried to use it for Eden's food. Hence my discovery of the manual mill thanks to a friend who loaned it. :-)

Storage:

Reusable Baby Food Containers - So nice to have for grab 'n go! Freezer and microwave safe. I'm sure other similar containers work well, but these are what I have and know. I like how they stack together both for freezer storage and storing empty. You do need to be sure to screw the lid on well and leave a little room for expansion during freezing. Earlier on when Eden's food was pretty thin, I'd put it in a little ziploc with her spoon to transport in order to make sure no mess was made if it happened to leak.

Covered ice cube or food tray - Really, any will do. I have some ice cube trays that have lids that slide on and of. You could go with no covers, but they help prevent freezer burn as well as protect the food from contaminants and odors.

Ziploc bags & Sharpie - Label bag with food and date. Fill with frozen cubes!

Feeding Time:

Gerber Bowls - Oh my WORD! These are also must-haves, in my opinion. They are so multi-purpose, last a long time, and are just plain great. I even use them for my own snacks! Serving baby food, kids' snacks, adult snacks, snacks or babyfood on-the-go since they have lids, etc. We have two sets simply because they are SO useful!

Take & Toss Infant Spoons - SUCH an investment! Forget the fancy infant spoons with metal handles and rubber-coated bowls that change color. Or any other fancy spoon. These are so cheap that if you have to throw one away, who cares! But the secret is that they are incredibly durable! I think I've only purchased one, maybe two, sets in the entire life of our family. They are perfectly sized for infant mouths and very smooth around the edges.

T.G.I.F.

Judah asked me if I would race them after dinner. I said we'd see. He said, "Well, nevermind. Mommies can't run after they have babies." I tried to clarify to see if he meant mommies can't run while they have babies inside their tummies. "No, they just can't run after they have babies." Why, Judah? Because we're out of shape? "No, just because they can't. Boys can run whenever they want to..." And off he went into a tangent.

Elijah, innocently, at breakfast: "Can I have more banana butt cheerios and bananas?"

T.G.I.F.

Seems like a lot of funnies happen at the table...

While eating dinner, Elijah and I started having one of those typical "I love you more" conversations. Very cute. But he beat me. When I said, "I love you even more!", he followed with a supremely adorable and definitive voice saying, "I love you even mucher!" Ok. I'll take that. :-)

The other day, the boys and I were discussing facial hair. I was explaining that Eden and Mommy don't grow hair on our faces. Daddy does because he is a man. And someday, Judah & Elijah will. After some thought, Elijah asked enthusiastically, "Will I be Santa Claus??"

Today at lunch, Judah said he was five and then asked me how old I am. I explained that I'm 28 now but will be 29 in a few days. His eyes got huge and he exclaimed, "WOW! That's more than I can count... that's... that's higher than ONE HUNDRED!" Yes, son, you can because I've heard you count higher than 29 -- and thanks for making feel old. ;-)

Tippy Tuesday

Today's tip is short and sweet. And will give part of the reason I haven't posted in a bit. Holidays and then ill health. Yum.

Things I've found that dramatically help a really sore throat:

-Campbells old fashioned chicken noodle soup (not the new chunky kind) and saltine crackers. Oh, the warmth and the salt!
-Chamomile tea. Feels so warm and soothing going down, almost like it lubricates your throat. Too bad I ran out of my high quality straight-from-England tea bags. Matt said he can get me more soon... ;-)
-Ricola's honey herb cough drops. Tasty and quite soothing, also a lubricating feeling.

Turns out, the natural ways do work. Chicken noodle soup, hot tea (esp herbal), and honey/herbs. God knew what He was creating back in the day! But if I do end up needing meds, I'm thankful He gave man the knowledge to come up with them. :-)

T.G.I.F.

I've recently started letting the boys have a whole small apple rather than slices. Elijah bit into his apple this week but not all the way. His teeth marks were left in the skin. After looking it over quizzically and discovering the "smile," he exclaimed, "Look, Mommy! It's a apple punkin'!" Guess he thought it looked like a jack-o-lantern!

Having had a few very windy days lately, it gave Judah opportunity to ponder wind. "Mommy, where does wind come from?" Ah, an age old question, my son. We don't know, sweetie, and even the Bible says that we do not know where it comes from or where it is going. He quietly and solemnley added, "Maybe it's God's breath." So beautiful to watch his mind work.

The other night at dinner I told Matt that Eden is now up to about three cubes of food. Such a witty man I have. He replied: "One cube, two cubes, three cubes....game cube, cube-icle... We live a squared life."

Judah and Elijah were discussing what fireworks were at lunch.

J: Do you know what fireworks are?

E: No.

J: They're things that pop in the sky.

Later on, I heard them still talking about fireworks, the sounds they make, and how they work.

J: When the balloons go up and pop, it's a firework. Red balloons make red fireworks.

E: And purple balloons make purple fire trucks... I mean fireworks.

J: Green balloons make green fireworks...

And on and on they went about which balloon color made which firework color. Sometimes it's so cute to hear the perspective of kids.

I was feeding Eden her first cut-up pears rather than pear babyfood. For the life of me, I don't know what her problem is. It's perhaps the most grimaces I've seen from her when it comes to food. She'll eat pear babyfood mixed with infant cereal. Texture, maybe? Anyway, I told the boys I had no idea why she didn't like it. Without a beat, Judah assured me, "Maybe when she grows up." Yes, thank you, my son of four years. ;-)

T.G.I.F.

When Elijah was going downstairs to get a car to play with, I said, "Make sure to be shy...err...quiet." Where did that come from?

As the boys were playing, I heard them singing a medley of Christmas songs: "JingleS bells, jingleS bells, aaaall the way..." and "Go tell it on duh moooount-uhn dat Jesus Christ is born..." I should get video.

The other day, we learned about the sense of smell. I asked the boys what smells good: cakes, cookies, candles, Mommy's perfume. I asked what smells bad. Boys will be boys. ;-) However, after having fits of laughter over what boys think smells hilariously awful, Judah stopped to think for a moment. Finally, he said, "Atural gas. That smells bad. And if we smell it, we should get away." He means natural gas. And lest you think kids don't remember things you tell them... Matt had the boys sniff this scratch 'n paper that came in the mail explaining what to do if you smell natural gas. I thought it was pretty clever of the gas company -- and now we have more than just adult noses on the look out for "atural gas."

Instead of yelling, "Eden has a runny nose" or "She needs a tissue," Elijah just frantically yells "SICK! SICK! Eden has SICK!" Hilarious! Until I see just how icky the "sick" is...

Wordless Wednesday: Letting Go of Perfection + Toys = Creative Fun

Monday Meditation: One of the Best Analogies

Last week was kinda rough on me because I felt like there were days I was doing so well spiritually but then all of the sudden would snap at the smallest thing. This weekend was very busy and stressful (in a good way), but I found myself not responding with my usual "on-top-of-it-all" and "roll-with-it" mentality. I was floundering on the inside, easily overwhelmed and frustrated, feeling like many things were getting the better of me -- like the serious lack of 9 month dresses at both Kohls and Target (as just one minor example). Or how about the two people that approached me at random in Kohls -- while I was frustratedly trying to locate just ONE 9 month dress -- to convince me that there are two images of God, male and female. Don't even get me started on the conversation that took place. Or the mix-up with Elijah's inhaler medication, which meant my very first time to be truly anxious about his night coughing knowing I had no albuterol to give him. I could give you a long list of things that I felt didn't go well for me this past week and weekend. But I won't. I'll just focus on why I felt like a little mouse trying to stay afloat in a raging river. And one analogy that became precious to me in my weakest moment last evening.

Hormones. Ugh! It's been a long time since I've had to undergo the normal routine of the ever fluctuating female hormones. The farther Eden's birth plummets all too quickly into the past, the closer my body is to being back to it's normal mode of operation. And I don't think I'm ready to battle the moodiness, the quick temper, the pin-drop tears. (I mean, come on. Colts' Collie got injured and lay on the field not moving for a minute or so -- and I found myself quite choked up with tear-filled eyes. It was all I could do to not melt down!) I may not be ready, but the Spirit within me is ready to help me relearn how to fight this battle as it comes round and round again for years to come. That is a great comfort to me. And you wanna know what else is a great comfort to me?

My hubby. Last night, I came VERY close several times to cancelling my attendance at a ladies' cookie exchange. All who know me know that it would be extremely unusual for me to 1) not attend a social event, 2) not show up to something I committed to, 3) not take cookies I've already baked to share with others, and 4) cancel at the very last minute. But I came oh-so-close. Even while driving to the party, I came dangerously close to turning around and going home. I hated my cookies. I knew my home was a "wreck" (though I'm assured that's not possible...by other people). I missed my husband since we'd had such a busy weekend. I just wanted to be with him. Even if we were straightening, cleaning, and having a financial meeting, I just wanted to be with him. My Love. The man who brings me much comfort, laughter, security, warmth, and the like. He makes everything seem all right even if there is much turmoil within. (Boy, I'm getting all choked up again.) My hubby is my compassionate companion who gives of himself for me.

And then I got a double dose thought...

How utterly beautiful that my husband serves as an analogy of Christ. Christ is the ultimate Groom. The best Comforter. The One who has given me this abundant life. The One who has made all things right with my soul despite the turmoil it feels. He's the One who holds me eternally secure in the warmth of His embrace. He compassionately accompanies me on this journey through life -- which includes the rough spots. He gave His life so that winning the battles with my flesh is even possible!

God has given me both! An earthly husband AND a heavenly Husband. A double blessing and sure-fire aid during my weakest moments as a woman. Will I still have to do battle over and over again? You betcha!! But praise be to God for the reminder that I am not alone spiritually or physically. I've got two companions to cover both those bases!

To finish the story, I did end up going to the cookie exchange and had a pleasant time. Precious moments were shared with a dear friend as I was finally able to see and hold mementos of Eden's heavenly friend Avery. Excitement was shared as we learned of a new life on the way for another friend. Bittersweetness was also shared. Praise the Lord He made us to be relational. Friends do wonders for the soul. And when I got home -- the kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedroom were all spotless, Christmas cards hung, chandelier reworked to be much better looking... Like I said. God has given me a companion who knows how to ease my battle. What a blessing!

T.G.I.F.

Judah: "Mommy, can I show Elijah how the world works?" Wow, son. Can you show me that, too?? Then I found out he was referencing the globe sitting atop our bookshelf and wanted to show Elijah how the "sun and dark work."

Elijah came down from his nap with a mischievous grin and sing-song voice. "Mommy, wanna see what I can dooo?" Uhh, do I? He then proceeded to unbutton and unzip his pants and shove one of his stuffed monkeys down his leg, hysterically laughing all the while. Wow. Sometimes I will never understand the male sense of humor.

Judah was explaining to me what he wanted to happen when we were finished with dinner. I have no idea what he said. Why? Because as soon as I heard him say, "And in the meantime..." my brain shut down to mull over whether or not my 4 year old just used that phrase in a proper manner. Did you just say, "And in the meantime"?? "Yes, I did. ::proceeds to talk about his plan::"

Wordless Wednesday: Girl, we've got work to do!

Tippy Tuesday: Bacon!

Mmm, bacon. I have a love-hate relationship with it. Smoky, salty, meaty goodness. Splattery, burny, greasy clean-upness.

Enter: Alton Brown. One of my culinary heroes.

Bake yer bacon, folks!

That's right. Slap an oven-safe cooling rack in a shallow sheet pan. Lay those bacon strips right on top. Crank 'er up to 400 degrees. Stick 'em in. Turn occasionally. Remove when nicely darkened and crisped to your preference. Takes about 10-15 minutes.

AMAZING! Smokey campfire bacon smell will waft through your kitchen -- delicious! NO greasy grime on your above-stove microwave. NO grease freckles on your stove or kitchen floor. NO pops and forearm stings or grease pricks on your shirt. Simply glorious. Bonus 1: the fat renders off into the sheet pan rather than your bacon drowning in its own grease. Bonus 2: your bacon stays flat (so long as you turn it a few times) which makes for easy use in my family's favorite bacon dish...

Breakfast burritos! Back at TMC, the student center's lil' restaurant would make the "California Burrito." We're talkin' one HUGE breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon, and tater tots. Those cafe ladies sure knew how to start your day! I remember Matt always trying to get one of them to smile -- and it worked on a few occasions.

Anyway, you really should try your hand at a hearty breakfast burrito at home. Tortillas, eggs, bacon, shredded cheddar, and tater tots. That's it! I've gotten it down to a science thanks to my two new sheet pans (I'm becoming less of a stone person by the minute...). The great thing about baking bacon for your breakfast burritos is that you can bake your bacon AND tater tots at the same time WHILE making your eggs atop the stove. No baking your tots, frying you bacon, then attempting to use the same (or another) pan for eggs. Scrambled eggs go down the center of your tortilla, cheese, a few strips of bacon, then a nice line of tater tots (salted if desired). Roll up gently so there is no breakage. Let sit to allow the cheese to get all ooey-gooey. In the fashion of Emile on Ratatouille, HORK IT DOWN! (Personal Experience Note: they taste just as good without cheese for my fellow can't-have-dairy-right-now people.)

Ok. Now I want one. Good thing it's on the menu for this week! And last week...and the week before that...

Monday Meditation

"This is reality, not religion." - Pastor Leake

Such a powerful statement. The world without question lumps "Christianity" into that general realm we call religion. But for the Believer in Christ, it is much more than "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs" (dictionary.com). We do adhere to a set of beliefs etc. and in a superhuman agency (God Himself!), and we do devote ourselves to Him and have the "rituals" of the Lord's Supper and baptism (which by the way do not save us but are expressions of obedience by a heart already justified by Christ). We also have a code of conduct we go by, not a code we made up, but a code given by Almighty God Himself and preserved through the ages. But to us, Christianity is more than rote religion.

It is TRUTH. Which means it is REALITY.

Especially during this Christmas season, it's so important to remember this fact. How easy it is to spout off to your young sons, "We celebrate Christmas because it's Jesus' birthday." Or to sing with your husband carols you've sung since you were a young tyke. Or to get lost in dreaming of opening your daughter's hair bow bands on Christmas morning -- so she can finally have some head decor since her hair follicles are taking their sweet time. Rushing here and there finalizing lists. Attending wonderful Christmas parties and gatherings to celebrate the season. But is all of that reality to you, or just something warm and fuzzy to do every year? Lots of extras come with the Reason for the Season. And unfortunately, the extras are the grit and grime that often muddy the pristine snow.

REALITY: something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent.

So instead of picturing baby Jesus and His nativity scene as that of your Little People Nativity set, remember...

Mary was a real young woman living her own life, like many of you may know (or be!), when the most glorious being she'd ever seen burst into sight. She heard an angel straight out of heaven tell her she was going to be pregnant -- her life of purity gone in an instant to outsiders looking in but not believing in God's plan. Joseph was a real man who loved this girl Mary, wanting to live his life with her and start a family, when his dreams were suddenly dashed as she told him she had a real baby in her womb with an outlandish story as to why. He also heard the angel tell him of God's plan; and in obedience, he instantly tarnished his own reputation among the outsiders by still taking this "impure" woman as his wife and the "illegitimate" Child as his own. When He was born, Jesus was a real tiny baby with a floppy head, teensy fingers, and little grunts and cries. He nursed, cooed, peed, slept, burped, probably even went cross eyed a few times. Creator-God became the most helpless, precious being on His own earth. He had to learn to walk, talk, eat, play, count, read, dress Himself, trim a beard...all of the things boys grow up doing. All of this was REAL! Just as real as the water He turned to the best wine. As real as the fish and bread that fed 5,000 people. As real as the kiss Judas gave Him. As real as the splinters in His back and thorns on His brow.

As real as His dead body coming back to life, having opened the door for us to enter into His real heaven.

It's too easy for us to tell the "story" of Christmas. Why not first internalize the reality of Christmas? When you hold your baby or play with your kids, think about how Mary did the same with Jesus. That should blow your mind right there -- she KNEW He was God's Son sent to save herself and the world, and yet she was charged with raising the God of the Universe from birth?? That's just one example of the realities we should be focusing on. Oh, what a mysterious majesty this Reason for the Season is!

There's a reason we celebrate. This Christmas, commit to making Christ not just a religion to you, but a reality.

"Mary did you know...when you kiss your little Baby, you've kissed the face of God!"

Tippy Tuesday

While I hope none of my tips are been-there-done-that for my readers, I do realize that there are some things that are obvious to many or have been done a jillion times. Today's tip just might fall into that category, but I offer it anyway since I had to discover it on my own.

I don't have a lot of money or space to spend on a bunch of seasonal decor. Now, if I did have the space, I probably wouldn't fill it. I'm not huge on decorating every nook and cranny for any holiday. Personal preference -- I feel like the more decor I put out, the less tidy things look. (NOT to say that things are always tidy around here, but lots of decor would only add "stuff.") I suppose I think it looks like I've left things laying around. But then, I also suppose if I had unlimited finances to spend on such things, what I would purchase would be lovely and flow all together. Hmm. But I don't. So it doesn't.

All that to say, I have a total of two wreaths. One is a gorgeous fall wreath a dear friend gave me last year when she found out I didn't have one but wanted something for my door. The other is a simple branch wreath. I came up with the idea that if I had a simple branch wreath, I could then purchase a couple sets of flowers to stick in the wreath according to the season. That way, I'm only storing a few gallon ziplocs of flowers and one wreath at a time. The branch wreath stays on the door the entire year except for October-November. I have purple hydrangeas, daffodils, sunflowers, and red black-eyed susan flowers plus their greeneries to use for the rest of the year in whatever combination fits my fancy. But...

Winter is my favorite wreath. I have no idea why. It's just a bunch of sticks wrapped with a small piece of ribbon and one snowflake ornament hanging in the middle. Perhaps it is the simplicity that I am drawn to. Or the cool, icy feel that makes me think of a pristine winter scene graced by a beautiful snow queen. Or the sparkle of the ornament mixed with the rustic texture of the branches and the silky smooth ribbon. (Can you tell I've thought this through on multiple occasions?) Practically, it is also the cheapest wreath I "make." I already had the ribbon from making a pair of garters for a friend years ago, and the ornament is from my dear sister Hope who knows me very well in the Christmas snowflake department. This one fits my cooking mantra: "Cheap 'n easy." The beauty is a bonus!

Snowflakes on Sunday

It was so fun to come out of church today to a flurry (if you could call it that). Even just a few white dots floating in the air is good enough for me. Instant thrill of winter and more intense Christmas spirit! And, of course, the boys went wacko. I think they still want a snow like Snowmageddon. Please, Lord, not even half that. I love my boys, but please...no. Maybe in 10 years?

Something "funny" happened tonight. Bless my little 'Lij. That child. Wow. He is so loveable and snugglicious and cute to boot. But good gracious can he be curious and/or mischievous. Yesterday, Matt caught him investigating the Neosporin night lip balm I keep on my nightstand (first mistake on my part). After the lid was put back on and Elijah's fingers wiped, Matt discovered blotches of it all over my nightstand. So he cleaned that up to. We thought that was the end of the episode.

Nuh-uh.

Tonight, I did the duty of washing my face, quenching it with Vitamin E oil, brushing my teeth, flossing...all even though I really wanted to just crawl in bed. But I knew my eyes would regret leftover make-up in the morning. They've had a lot of trouble as of late. Anyway, I climbed into bed and reached for my lip balm to sooth my troubled lips. When I opened the tub, I noticed that the cream looked like it had been stirred up and toppled somehow. Ah well, no harm done. So I put some on my lips, recapped it, and sat back to let my face soak in the E and relax for a few minutes. After a few seconds, I started smelling something familiar and soothing. But at the same time, my lips started feeling dry rather than moist and slick. Hmm. That's odd. I licked my lips -- boy, that doesn't taste right. What is going on? So, while trying to pooch out my lips and smell them to see if they were the source of the familiar smell, I looked over at my night stand. There, sitting next to my little Neosporin tub was my tube of Gold Bond ultimate healing lotion. ::puts two and two together...:: AHA! No wonder the tub looked more full than usual and more full of a not-as-white substance. And has a smell like the what I use on my hands. And dries like lotion rather than balm. The child had seen fit to refill Mommy's tub of lip balm with hand lotion. Um...thank you?

Several finger, tissue, and Q-tip swipes later, I do believe I salvaged about half of my Neosporin lip hero. And, note to self, at least I now know that lotion doesn't really do it for lips.

Curious little monkey. I love you!

T.G.I.F.

Sunday is Football Day around here. The boys are getting into the cute tradition of choosing which team they are for whatever game is on. While watching Redskins vs. Giants, Judah called out, "I'm the Redskins!" Elijah answered, "I'm the Blueskins!" (Note: For non-football fans, the Redskins have red jerseys while the Giants have blue.)

While eating some BBQ potato chips, Judah said, "These are stingy, but I still like them!"

I've had a problem with freezing feet all week long -- to the point that I'm really irritated by it. I figured out one of the problems was my socks. I suppose the moisture from my feet (though not much) was just enough to keep my socks cool rather than warm. So I've opted to start wearing my flip-flops around the house. While my toes are still icy, my feet are not AS chilled. Still irritating though. But, I did manage a smile when I looked down at my feet today to discover that I have two black flip-flops on...but they don't match. One is my from my nicer pair, and the other from my 'round the house pair. Glad it's not warm enough to accidentally go out in public like this! :-P Not that anyone would really notice... And what's funnier is that I have no idea where the other two flip-flops are! I couldn't make a match even if I cared enough!

T.G.I.F.

Along with Tippy Tuesdays, I'm gonna try to throw in regular T.G.I.F's (To Grin is Fun)-- collecting all the kidisms that happen throughout the week and having one post of hilarium a week! This week's will be slim since I've not been keeping track except for today.

Judah, counting in a sing-song fashion: "...sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twun-hundred!"

At lunch, Eden has been practicing her dexterity with some Puffs. It's so amazing to watch the brain gears working to get those tiny fingers to do what she wills. She's getting better even after just a few days. But, I still occasionally give her a break and put one in her mouth for her if she seems to be having extra trouble. Apparently, she gets that mixed up with the times I hold up a Puff for her to easily grab from my fingers rather than chasing it around the tray. Today, when I'd hold one up for her to take with her fingers, she'd dive for it with mouth open wide. Pretty average reaction for a baby. But when it's YOUR adorable baby, of course it's cutely worthy enough to post about. :-)

Outside during our frigid 20 minutes of play, the boys called me over to look at something. "Look, Mommy! A milk splash!" I looked down to where they were pointing. Uh, that's not a milk splash, boys. "What is it?" That's bird poop. Their stunned expressions and worried glances to the ground were priceless. Did you touch it? "Not with our hands." With your gloves?::pause:: "No, not with our gloves." Hmm. I'll be washing their gloves.

Tippy Tuesday: Laundry

If you're like me, you have various sizes of little socks, bibs, sweaters, delicate underlings, and the like mixed in with your umpteen loads of laundry. And, if that's the case, then you also know that bib velcro and sweaters do NOT go hand in hand and baby socks seem to repel each other...and existance. Ugh! My laundry indulgence: multiple mesh bags. Oh, my friends, how I love these! One for bibs. One for socks (if you know a pair went in the wash, a pair WILL come out). One for kid sweaters. One for underlings, tights, etc. Obviously, you can't jam them full (ie 2 kid sweaters max at a time); but then, you should be doing laundry enough to where that's not necessary. Pointing to self here.

I am in love with Cheer liquid detergent. Yes, yes, I know powder is probably cheaper -- or even making your own! (Props to those who do...and have the space to store 10 gallons.) But my long-term relationship with Cheer powder ended when it started making me cough every time I'd measure it out. Not to mention, my height made it difficult to get to the dregs of the box. I turned in the powder towel and tried the liquid -- and will ne'er return! So quick and easy to measure, without having to be on my tip-toes. No coughing due to tiny particles floofing through the air. And I love the smell of our clean clothes. The end. (Can I have copyright privileges on "floofing"?)

Tired of having air-dry clothes out for days waiting to dry, especially sweaters? Well, if you have an in-ceiling vent with enough space to put up your air-dry rack below it -- let your heater get to work! That is, if it's cold outside. Which it certainly is here... ;-)

11.24 Elijahisms

In BJs the other day, I asked the boys to help me look for the items on our list. After finding the milk, the next item to look for was eggs. We located the eggs, put them in our cart, and as we were walking away, Elijah said, "Look, Mommy! Chocolate eggs!" I had no idea what he was referencing until I turned around and saw the brown eggs next to the white eggs.

This afternoon, the boys and I were lounging on my bed at the end of nap time. We were playing a rhyming game and got to "eat, meat, seat, etc." Judah started explaining that meat comes from cows. I said that meat can come from different animals, and hamburger is what we get from cows. I then asked, "Where does chicken come from?" Elijah, without a beat, answered, "Chick-fil-A!"

Tippy Tuesday

I'm going to try and start a new thing: Tippy Tuesday. A day in which I just post random tips of things that work for me around the house that may or not be of use to others. I've learned from having a subscription to Better Homes & Gardens (thank you, Brenda!) that I am an idea-lover. Even if I never use a tip or idea, I love simply reading about them! So, I give you the first Tippy Tuesday post.

Instead of having a random stack of kid socks, too small to stack like adult socks but too big to lay neatly like baby socks, I pair mine up and stack them in a criss-cross fashion. That way, it gives a wide base so the tower doesn't fall over in the drawer AND my sons can easily pick up a pair without bringing just a handful of socks.

I love having an egg container in my fridge. But I also know that it is "best" to store eggs upright as they come in an egg carton. I just discovered that an egg carton actually fits in my egg container! So, I snipped off the lid and flap and placed the whole bottom half of the carton with the eggs in the egg container. Pop the lid back on, and stack the next carton on top. Keeps all eggs from being crushed and keeps them upright. The only drawback is that it doesn't look quite as quaint as a bunch of eggs piled in a container. :-)

11.22 Kidisms

Last night, our friend Brandon opened a gate for Judah and said, "Your free!" Judah walked away and simply said, "No, I'm four."

Elijah calls oatmeal "eat-meal." Judah calls avocado "ah-buh-ca-bo."

When I put Eden in a little leopard sleep 'n play, the boys called her "Eden Jaguar" and happily treated her like she was Baby Jaguar off of Diego.

Just a Day

An ordinary day. Pristine sunshine streaming across my quiet living room on this crisp fall afternoon. Glorious Sonshine filling my heart with joy despite some hardships as of late. Isn't He good like that?

Eden has a terribly gross nose right now. Every time yucky snot is running out, Elijah yells, "SICK! She needs a tissue, Mommy. It's SICK!" I suppose either Matt or I have described it as such enough times to influence our little dude's vocabulary.

We learned about wind and rain yesterday. I reviewed our terms at dinner, and Judah said a light rain is a "dribble" (instead of drizzle). Not sure I'll correct that just yet.

Last night, I was straightening up my sewing stuff. With Elijah looking on, Judah took it upon himself to press the ironing board's button and make it slam down. Totally scared me as I envisioned pinched arms, bonked heads, etc. After I knew they were ok, I commenced explaining that it was dangerous of him to do that. That's a mommy-job. But while I was talking, my boys were lost in their own amazement at how the ironing board went down. Judah told Elijah, "Look, 'Lijah! It downloaded!" Ha ha ha!

I'm off to neti my way into a nap before the hub-bub of post naptime begins.

A Tale of Two Veggie Dishes

Once upon a time, there was a woman who was a pro at making baby food. But she always knew there was an arch nemesis to the homemade baby food world: green beans. So one sunshiny day, she decided she would try three different methods using two different types of green beans to see if it was at all possible to match the perfectly smooth texture of jarred baby food. To her utter dismay, two and a half hours passed by as her kitchen got messier and messier; and all she was left with was the same kind of homemade baby food green beans she had ever ended up with. A whole morning gone with nothing left but textured baby food her daughter won't be able to eat for a while yet.

Now I remember why I always bought jarred green beans. Green beans don't have pits. They ARE the pits. Ugh. I began with good intentions to use frozen green beans. Steamed 'em up, and started hand-cranking away. And cranking and cranking and hand cramping and cranking... Just an awful amount of work that produces such a tiny amount of baby food. So I was going to throw them into my awesome electric baby food mill, but I think it must have shorted out a few seconds after I began. And being the amazing electrician I am, I have no idea what happened (nor did I choose to investigate -- good news for those of you that know my "background" in electricity...). I then tried to hand-crank some more, got fed up with that, and promptly grabbed the two cans of French style green beans (no salt or preservatives, just beans and water). Those cranked up very nicely, though still more difficult than soft fruits. It's amazing the amount of water that comes out of green beans! But what was I going to do with the rest of the steamed frozen green beans? I put them in the Kitchenaid mixer attachment that grinds food. Wow. Water pouring out here while green bean pieces that resembled cow cud pushed out here, and oops there's a leak there too. Pushed some more beans down and now I have green bean juice a few feet up on my cabinet doors. Forget it! I was left with two bowls of baby food. One a bright fresh green with tons of water and a potent flavor. One a muted green with a softer consistency and bland green bean flavor. Neither of which Eden can eat just yet because it is too textured. So I just combined the two (now that was a pretty site - not!) and froze 'em up. And now I just remembered I completely forgot to add a little salt and butter. ::sigh:: I hate green bean baby food. Let's nuke the City of Green Bean Baby Food and move on to the tale of a lovely veggie dish.

Far away in another veggiedom, there was a woman who was about to do something she'd never done before. She grabbed a zucchini, a yellow squash, and several red potatoes. "I want to try my hand at oven roasting some veggies!" she said to herself. "I know I'll probably be the only one that likes them, but who cares!" So she chopped them up, dressed the chunks, and threw them in the oven without a worry. After a while, out came gorgeous roasted veggies that she thoroughly enjoyed. Why, so much that it was ALL she ate for dinner. Two bowls of yummy roasted veggies -- and no one wanted to share! More for her! Since then, she has made them several times and encouraged her King and knights to try them with her. The King loves the potatoes and graciously eats a few of the zucchini and squash pieces. The knights? Well, they still need convincing.

Seriously! I realize I'm probably behind a lot of women in the whole veggie department, but hey I'm catching up! It is so super easy to roast veggies, so cheap, and so delicious! Just a little chopping, mixing, and oven-time gives you a beautiful and hearty side dish to any meal. I mixed my zucchini, yellow squash, and unpeeled red potato chunks with salt, pepper, 2 glubs of olive oil, 2-3 glubs of Italian dressing. Spread them out on my wonderful new metal baking sheet. Roasted at 425 for 40-50 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or so. The few times I've made them with something else baking, I just put them in at 425 while I prep the other dish, turn the oven down when I add the other dish to the oven, and then crank it back up to 425 when the other dish comes out. It's worked great every time. Try it! Who knows, maybe I'll throw in a sweet potato soon. Though I am CERTAIN the King won't be eating those pieces... (I just realized there are no after pics -- I was too excited to eat them!)

On the whole food thing...

Can I just say that it is so odd to follow the "new guidelines" for feeding an infant? It's amazing how new studies and research can change mass thinking so quickly. Elijah is only three years old. It wasn't terribly long ago that I went through the baby food process with him. And in just the short time since then, it's all changed. Where once you had to spend at least a week introducing a new food to check for reactions, now you only have to wait 3 days. Where once you had to make sure to introduce every single ingredient before you could mash up a casserole or main dish, now you can go straight to feeding your baby exactly what you are having for dinner after you and baby master the basics of solid food feeding. Simply mind bending. Disclaimer: If you do your own internet research, you can find all opinions represented. I really like Wholesome Baby Food as well as my own pediatrician's advice.

Granted, I'm sure "they" are not saying to grind up some spicy (read: burn your mouth off) curry chicken for your 6 month old or popping a few whole peanuts on the high chair tray. I'm gonna call it "Cautious Freedom." That's what it seems like after reading into it. And I like the thought. But it's a little scary because it's just different from how things were with Judah and Elijah. What was especially scary (though our pediatrician approved it) was giving Eden a mix of sweet potato, rice cereal, and ALMOND milk tonight. I gave my 6 month old a nut product. Every spoonful was given with frightening thoughts in my head: "What are the signs of anaphylaxis? Would I call 911 for an epi-pen? How soon would she break out into hives if she's allergic? ... " So, why did I do it if I was scared? Because there is no reason to be afraid. There is no known nut allergy in either of our families. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure life as we know it would cease without peanut butter. ;-) I consulted Dr. L, and he said sure. I wanted to give her something yummy-creamy, and water can't do what a milk texture can. Trust me. I know. (6 months down and less than 6 months to go on this dairy free...with occasional slips...diet.)

I'm treating Eden as an experiment. Since I plan to make more of her food homemade than I did with either of my boys AND because she has not reacted to any foods yet, I'm going to introduce her to more foods than I did the boys. She's already had sweet potatoes, red potatoes, zucchini, and yellow squash -- things the boys never had or to which they reacted. Maybe by doing this, she will have wider food horizons than the boys. Maybe not. We'll see! (Though, the boys seem to have broadened their horizons as of late. I think Elijah at least THREE times this week told me over and over how delicious dinner was...wow!!) Also, because I have recently realized that perhaps I do like avocado... I'm going to buy my very first avocado this week and feed it to my baby. NEVER thought I would say or do that. Watch me!

And now that I've totally rambled about baby food, I offer an adorable Elijah food-ism. Tonight, he and I had a Mexican layer dip with tortilla chips for dinner (see above statement about the dairy diet slip...but just a leetle bit...::sigh:: I know I'll be cleaning up a bit more spit-up tomorrow for that...). As I was building Elijah's layers, he kept telling me what he wanted. He'd think through the list as he said it:

"I want, uh, cheese. Aaaaand....cream [sour cream]. And sauce [no salsa]. And, uh...uuuum...::thinking very hard and long::.... SELL-US! I want sell-us, too."

You mean lettuce? "Yeah! Sell-us!" Too cute to correct. He's putting "salad" and "lettuce" together. That just makes me smile and love his adorableness even more.

They did the Taaaaater Mash!

There's a first time for everything. And today, I don't mean my first time to make baby food. I'm a pretty seasoned pro when it comes to that, having done it for two children already and now on my third. But neither of my boys could eat sweet potatoes or squash without getting a face rash. My daughter seems to be able to eat anything I put in her mouth -- with hardly any reaction (much to our disappointment...isn't that part of the fun of baby food?).

No, today's firsts included having sweet potatoes in my house, peeling and cutting sweet potatoes, and cooking them up for baby food. Ok, one other first was using a hand-crank baby food mill rather than the electric one I used for the boys. I gotta say, even though it is more manual work, I think it makes a smoother, more consistent

baby food. I'll save my final decision on that after I do some corn and peas. If you have never made your own baby food or are just interested in the process, I photo-chronicled the Sweet Potato Mash just for you.

Really -- making your own is cheap and easy. Granted, more work than popping open a jar. But using fresh or even frozen foods to make your own provides more nutrients and more potent flavors for your baby for much less money. I think one thing that really gets me is that jarred baby food or even using canned food to make your own means you are using food that is packaged in a way that it can sit on the shelf for a couple years before it is consumed. Hmm. Not my first choice when considering my new baby's food intake. (Disclaimer: I do occasionally use jarred and canned, but it's not the norm. Sometimes you need the food a little faster.)

I used two sweet potatoes. Just wait until you see how much I got out of them!

1) Peel and chop the sweet potatoes. I was shocked at how hard it is to cut those things! Matt said what I was thinking: "Just make sure no fingers get cut off!"

2) I used Pampered Chef's large microcooker and a little water to steam the sweet potatoes in the microwave in 3 minute increments (about 12 minutes total until tender).

3) Pull the plunger of the food mill to the bottom and fill the cylinder to the top with some steamed sweet potato chunks. Lock the crank into place. Crank while putting gentle downward pressure on the center tube. Have fun watching the sweet potato come out the top like playdough spaghetti!

4) Scoop the mash into a bowl. Repeat until all sweet potato chunks have done the mash. Add a little butter and either water or breastmilk/formula for both flavor and consistency.

5) Divide into your choice of containers for consumption and freezing. I kept some out for use in the next couple days. Some I put in my awesome little reusable baby food containers for on-the-go use, and the rest went into covered ice trays. Once frozen, I'll remove the ice cube food to a labeled and dated ziploc bag. I got 2 fridge portions, 2 on-the-go's, and 1.5 ice trays (21 ice cubes)...out of just two sweet potatoes. If that's not saving money, I don't know what is! $2 vs approx $12! Glad she likes them. ;-) Now if I can just make sure her nose doesn't turn orange like Judah's did......

Changes

The leaves are gorgeous, the weather cooler. And wow. A crawling 6 month old means a change in how playtime goes...or doesn't go...in this house. Boys vs girl. Mastery vs curiosity. This is going to be some ride!

Today was the first time I had a "no" session with Eden -- to which she threw what I would call her first little fit over a non-necessity. Boy, she wanted those puzzle pieces the boys had. I let her explore a few with touch and sight, but it was the "no, don't eat them" that really got to her. I knew this change would come. Every child at some point moves from the "purely innocent" (which they are not) to manifesting a self-centered heart. A sad change. Until you remember it is reversible with the blood of Christ!

I love when Elijah says we're having "buh-lee-dohs" for dinner. He means burritos. Another R's-are-L's word. I'll be sad when that changes.

Speaking of food and changes, I've introduced Eden to enough foods now that it's time to change over from store-bought baby food to home-made. I did it with the boys, so it's not a new skill. But it still seems daunting. Which it's not. It's super easy (especially with some tools a friend loaned me today). It's just the initial thought of adding that to meal management. But I'll enjoy it. And so will she. I promise. ;-) It is the first time, after all, that I have EVER purchased sweet potatoes and had them on my counter just waiting to be cooked!

Yes, change is good. It makes life interesting!

Kid Literature

When Elijah says, "I need some pry-swee," he wants me to leave the bathroom while he goes potty. My three year old wants privacy. He also calls an ambulance "eem-blipse." Or something like that. I still can't figure it out!

I dabbled in some dairy to see if Eden has grown out of most of her spit-up issues. Boy, she hasn't. At all. After dotting the floor about 10 times in one hour, I helplessly exclaimed "Child!" as I cleaned up yet another pool of spit-up. Judah responded, "...are known by his actions." Guess he's got that Proverb in his heart: "A child is known by his actions." But in this case, I suppose a mother's actions is known by her infant's reactions. :-P

The other night, Elijah decided he wanted to tell us a couple bedtime stories.

Story One: "Once upon a time, there was a little mommy talking to daddy. She fell down a hole with bugs. There was a blue one. And that's the end of my story."

Story Two: "Once upon a time, there was a big monster; and there was a little Eden looking at it. And then she runned away. That's the end."

Jumping the Gun

Sometimes, I guess moms can be too quick to judge...

As I was pinning a sewing project, I realized it was completely silent in the living room where Judah & Elijah were. Never a good thing...or so I always assume. I sternly called out, "What are you guys doing?" Judah softly answered, "Nothing." Hmm, right. "Why are you guys being quiet then?" "Because sometimes it's nice to be quiet."

::Stunned:: So, Dear Sons, why don't you believe Momma when I say those exact words? :-)

Elijah Cutes

One of my favorite things that Elijah does is that his "R" in a lot of words turns up like an "L."

"I want to pray" sounds like "I want to play."

"It's broken" is always "It's bloken."

"Bread" is "bled."

etc.

I just think it's so cute. Most kids with "R" trouble seem to use "W," so perhaps I think it's adorable because it's different.

Yesterday morning, we got to wake up to a pretty powerful thunderstorm (though short). Elijah reminds me a lot of how I used to react to big lightning and thunder. It almost seems to paralyze him. He runs and hides or finds me. He becomes like a statue and doesn't make a sound. His newest reaction in addition to the above is to turn his head away from whatever window is in the room. And he'll just sit there like that. If he does talk to someone in the room, he won't turn his head to look at the person. He is just frozen in that position, even if his voice is jovial. He is my kid through and through. Hopefully, he'll grow out of his thunderstorm fear before I did (which was in my late teens...or later...).

This morning when we were choosing cereals for breakfast, Elijah wanted the Fiber One cereal. I had him taste a little bit of it because I was in disbelief that he'd choose that over multi-grain Cheerios with strawberries. He liked it. So he had two bowls of Fiber One (half bowls, mind you) and loved it. Is that normal for a 3 year old? To my adult amusement, right as he was finishing his second bowl, he looked at me and said, "I have to go poo-poo!" Guess it does the job right quick in little bodies. ;-)

Jesus in Me

Meal times seem to bring out the best comments and questions from Judah. At dinner...

"Mommy, did the doctor.....when he cut you open, did the doctor see Jesus?"

Uh, what do you mean?

"Did the doctor see Jesus inside you when you got your cut?"

Oh, you mean because Jesus is in my heart? "Yeah."

I love seeing raw logic in children. :-)

::melting heart::

As we sat down for snack time, Judah said, "Mommy, you're my best friend! But you know who who's even more my best friend? GOD!"

Say that again?

Sometimes, I am left dumbfounded. At dinner tonight:

Judah: I want zero percent.

Me: You want zero percent?? Is that what you said?

Judah: Yes, zero percent.

Me: Zero percent of what?

Judah: A car made out of food. Um, I think chocolate.

In an emergency...

We're working on teaching Judah how to dial 911 on my phone and WHEN he is supposed to do it (i.e. when Mommy can't get to the phone). While eating lunch with him today, he randomly piped up and said, "So, when you're dead, I'll dial...um...8? No, 6?..."

Uh, you don't have to wait until I'm dead, Judah!

Death & Bulrushes

We just started Exodus the other night in our nightly family Bible reading. Matt took the time to talk a little about death with the boys -- since the transition from Genesis to Exodus pretty much says "they all died." :-) I was not present for this conversation, so I was a little bewildered the next day when Judah and I exchanged the following:

Judah: I love Eden VERY much...

Me: Awww, I'm so glad you do!

Judah: But she'll get older and then die.

::stunned::

We talked a little about the difference between spirit and body. Try explaining to a 4 year old that who he is can not be seen. We only see his body. And even when his body dies, Judah will still exist -- prayerfully with Jesus if he believes in and loves Jesus! I told him that his spirit is what does the thinking and feeling. Unfortunately, I can't remember his cute response that involved the brain and heart. :-P (Later on, I told Matt about our conversation and was then informed of the little lesson on death the previous night.) I love being a mom. SO many times that I am forced to reckon and grapple with the basics of life as I try to explain it to my children. We learn things, get it under our belt, and then forget to keep pondering. We humans sure miss out on a lot of the depth that life in God's world brings!

Back to Exodus, last night's reading was about when Moses was placed in the basket and sent downriver. Talk about a new perspective! When Moses was 3 months old, his mother could no longer keep him hidden. Eden is 3 months old. As Matt read that chapter, I kept looking at my smiling, squealing Eden imagining how hard it must have been for Moses's mom to place her little guy in a basket she made and then put that basket in a mighty river. Could she have known the outcome? Drowning, eaten by animals, starvation...many things could have taken her son's life. And she probably knew that. Even thinking about my baby crying and not being able to get to her and calm her hurts me. And she's just upstairs -- not in the Nile all by herself.

But this woman had great faith. She had choices. She could have given up hiding him and succumbed to Pharaoh's soldiers. She could have tried to keep him hidden, eventually to be found by the soldiers. She even could have taken his life as a "mercy act" on herself and her baby boy -- his death was an eventuality in men's eyes. But instead, she made the most raw choice. She gave up her baby to creation. A creation that serves its Maker. The Maker she was devoted to. She gave her little son to God, wholly and compeltely. And in giving up her son, she gained him back. By putting Moses into an incredibly dangerous situation for a 3 month old, she saved his life...and got to finish nursing him, raise him a few years, train him...and then see him become one of the greatest men of all time in Egypt and in the history of the Jews!

Would I be willing to give up any of my children in such a way? Would you?

Kids Say the Most Random Things

While wrestling with Elijah, Judah yelled, "MICHAEL JACKSON!"

Raw Vocabulary

Last night, we received quite the picture of raw Flesh bucking against consequences for disobedience. For a while, there has been a hole in the boys' wall right by Judah's top bunk. He's picked at the hole several times and been disciplined for it. Since Matt had yesterday off, he decided to patch 'n paint the wall. During naptime, Judah called him up to ask for a hand wash...Judah had picked at the spackle and made a complete mess (including all over sleeping Elijah). We spent several hours trying to figure out what would be the best consequence for such a thing. Most pertinent was missing the picnic and swimming with a group of friends in order to watch Daddy repair the wall yet again. Judah, our social fishy, was absolutely distraught! He carried on with yelling and crying. After some thought, Matt revised and said Judah could go but would not be allowed to swim. After all, Matt didn't want to miss out by staying home with Judah! But Judah reacted the same way he did when he was told he couldn't go at all -- lots of loud, tearful protest. After a few minutes, because of his unthankful response, Matt gave the final word that he and Judah would stay home. Again, Judah lost it; but this time, he kept telling Matt (through sobs), "I need to tell you something, Daddy!" Matt calmly put him on the couch and said, "I'm listening." It took about 20 seconds for Judah to eek out between sobs...

"I accept your solution."

Wow. Even when not terribly upset, it would be weird to hear a four year old say that. I walked away so that no one would see the small smile fighting its way onto my face. It was terribly sad but a little funny, too. He still was not allowed to go because he should have accepted Daddy's solution when it was given. It's like saying "I'm sorry"...good, but doesn't negate the need for consequence.

Got me thinking. I pray that someday (soon?), Judah will accept Jesus' solution. For now, it is offered freely at any moment in time. He just needs to realize and internalize Jesus' solution to sin -- salvation! In the future, there will come a day when the time for accepting the Solution will pass. There will be no mercy after that.

And, as an adult, I need to continue to accept Jesus' solution. Judah needs the initial solution Christ provides which is a repentant and cleansed heart. I need the continual solution of daily remembering that I am no longer a slave to sin. Seeking the Lord and His strength is my lifelong solution to the battle I wage against my raw Flesh. May I daily use the same vocabulary my four year old did and say, "I accept Your solution!"

Milk, Steak, & Date

Judah asked me why I always drink so much water (which I probably don't drink enough...). I explained to him that as summer comes, it's very important for our bodies to have extra water...and Mommy particularly needs more water because my body makes milk for Eden. He thought for a few moments. "So, with Jesus in your heart, does He tell your tummy to make milk for Eden?" It's a little difficult to explain to kids that God created things to work a certain way and then it keeps working that way. Sounds close to deism...but that's not what I mean. After making a big mental effort in trying to explain that, Judah simply said again, "So Jesus tells your tummy to make milk?" Well, yes, He does! His creation obeys the rules He has set forth...but without God continuing to hold all things together, I suppose my tummy wouldn't have to make milk if it didn't want to. :-)

I accidentally put Judah's big boy cup of milk in front of Elijah at breakfast. The boys promptly pointed out my error. I corrected the problem while saying, "I'm sorry...My mistake!" Elijah, in a that's-so-silly voice, said, "You're not a steak, Mommy!'

Hubz surprised me last night by informing me that, unbeknownst to me, he secured a sitter for Friday night. That means a date, people! Such a rarity with three youngins! Where to go...what to do...

Count Your Many Dairies

Judah and Elijah just filled a hamper to the brim with toys and scooted it into the kitchen ("church" they said). Elijah said they had toys in the basket, and Judah followed with, "Yeah, like thousands!" Really?

So, Eden is dairy intolerant. Wow. And I thought cutting out coffee and chocolate was hard! I went dairy free (except baked goods) for 3-4 days. Had pizza one evening, and the next morning Eden fussed to high heaven while nursing. Then she proceeded to have milky spit-up for 30 minutes followed by another 20 minutes of thick spit-up. Today, she's spitting up less but now has a great need for diaper changing (if you catch my drift). Dr. L is fairly certain she has a dairy intolerance and told me I need to hold off. ::sigh:: So I shall. It's worth it to nurse her. And it's only for a few more months. (Eek!)

Three things I have noticed in this non-dairy week:

1) You feel like you're not really eating. "Real" food contains gooey cheese you can sink your teeth into...or cold and creamy yogurt...or deliciously dessertful ice cream...or a refreshing glass of milk with your pancakes...or a simple bowl of cereal with milk. Nope. None of that anymore.

2) You have to get pretty basic with your diet when dairy isn't in the picture. This really surprised me. Milk is in almost everything! Granted, I still think I'm ok to eat baked goods, butter, and other things that have little dairy content. But think of how much we use cheese, sour cream, cream soups, etc. in our cuisine!

3) A diet without dairy has less fat! (Hence the feeling of not having "real" food...)

So I now embark on a journey of figuring out how I'm going to eat and plan meals for my family over the next few months until Eden is weaned. All ideas are welcome!!! And pray for me to persevere for Eden's good!

And maybe pray that when I try coffee and chocolate in a week or so after being no-dairy a little longer, that maybe she'll be ok with those. That MIGHT be an even trade...

Green Bean Security

The other day we had some green beans with our lunch. For some reason (human nature?), my boys are on strike from vegetables AND fruit (ugh). So, per my sister's advice, a new rule is that they have to take at least one bite of everything on their plate at every meal. We were webcam-ing with my mom while eating, both of us trying to coax the boys to eat at least one green bean. We were using the race tactic of who could eat the bean first. My mom sing-songy asked, "Who's going to wiiin?" Elijah replied with "Not meee."

Today, Eden received her social security card. As I was opening it, Judah asked me what it was. I told him it was her social security card. He then asked, "What is social security?" All I could say with a grin only an adult can give was, "That is a VERY good question, Judah."

Two-Week Heart Check

It's been about two weeks since we welcomed our little Eden into our arms -- and what a glorious two weeks it has been! She is so different from either of our boys! Nursing has been a breeze to establish, so much that I can actually have warm fuzzy thoughts towards her while she is nursing. That NEVER happened with the boys because nursing was so difficult with them. At two weeks, she is already on a pretty solid 3 hour schedule and has slept 4-5 hours straight the past two nights (hopefully a new pattern...).

I consider this to be a huge blessing and gift straight from the Lord. Eden is our last newborn. And we have had nothing but sweet joy and an easy transition to three kids (which we were told by many would be the hardest). Just shy of two weeks with a newborn and already Matt and I are in awe that we feel like things are routine. That's right -- routine! It seems surreal.

Not once have I had regrets or tears over our decision that Eden would be our last biological baby as I expected I would. Not in the recovery room and not in the days since then. My thoughts have consistently been along positive lines. Resting in the knowledge that my body is finished being put through the rigors and pains of pregnancy and c-sections as well as being excited to get in shape for good. Feeling complete as a family (like my arms are "full," as my mom describes it). Looking forward to years of worry-free romance with my hubby. I haven't focused at all on not ever again having a pregnant belly, feeling a baby inside, etc. And even thinking about that now as I write leaves me unaffected emotionally. God is SO good to affirm decisions we make in faith by allowing our hearts to be at peace once the decision is final.

Thank you, Father, for letting Your peace reign in my heart these last two weeks. From the moments in surgery when I knew my child-bearing days were ending to tonight when I see my last newborn in her daddy's arms, I relish this "complete" feeling You have given my heart. I sit in awe at how You have granted our family an incredibly easy transition to three children and life with a daughter. What a gift to have so much enjoyment with our last newborn journey!