So I Don't Have a Fireplace...

But I do have a pellet stove.  And since we moved in more than a month ago, I knew I needed a faux mantle.  I needed one... Because although it worked in the hot month of August, I knew that once we had to actually use that pellet stove, that this was SO not going to work:

And neither will this...but she's just going to have to figure that one out on her own... :)

It would get way too hot to have things sitting on the stove like that!  So, enter faux mantle.  A lovely place to perch my "pretties" (as my mom would call them) and a focal point in the living room.

I started a garage sale hunt back in August, right after we moved in.  I thought I had scored immediately when I pulled up to the first garage sale of the day and they had exactly what I wanted!! And for only $3!! Whoo hoo!!  After my day was done, I headed home eager to try out my new "mantle".   I walked in the door, held up my prize and immediately had regret.  The shelf was SO dang long that it covered up a foot of both side windows....this was not going to suffice....

I figured I wasted $3 and would have to find a place to quickly chuck it so that Skyler wouldn't have to know about my failure of the day and remind me why I should always measure...boys. :)
The more I looked at it, the more I realized how easy it would be to cut down the side and reattach the trim to the new and shorter edge.  Dad could do this in a minute!  I stashed the extra long shelf in the shop for the time being and left it there for a few weeks...

While browsing the UGM thrift store, I spotted 2 thick wooden shelf brackets for $.98 for the pair.  PERFECT.  These would look WAY better than the flimsy inch-thick junk that was currently on it (I told you I had buyers regret....).

I thought I had taken a before picture of it...but I guess I didn't.  It was literally like almost 6 feet long (what was I thinking?!) and was VERY rough.  The brackets to support it were just inch thick pieces of plywood cut like a triangle...and no finished edges on the brackets....just ugly, thin, can-they-even-hold-any-weight? brackets.

I handed my sad shelf over to dad with my new thick brackets and told him "four foot!"  He cut and replaced the trim and fixed 'er right up for me, sanded and all.

Here's the after-dad-fixed-it-but-before-paint pictures:

(I have an awesome dad, btw.  This is where I get my DIY passion from.  I have never in my life seen a project that dad has backed down from or not fixed.)

I slathered on some paint, since I'd been in the midst of painting several house items anyway, and got her hung up!

And the full effect:

*aahh* My living room feels complete now. :)  MUCH better. And for only $4!! Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Love, K

It's Dutch, Baby!

Am I seriously the only one who's never had these before??

Dutch Baby

(From)

Skyler told me about Dutch Baby's soon after we were married and begged me to make one for him.  I never got around to it (bad wife) and finally he decided to make his own one day...Let's just say that it came out of the oven perhaps a little too "sun-kissed" and neither of us touched it.  

Just about every Saturday and Sunday since we've been married, I wake up before him and make a big breakfast for us to enjoy together.  Most often it's eggs, grits, bacon, sausage or french toast or crepes.  However, since I've been a house-wife for the last almost 3 weeks, I have continued to wake up with him in the mornings, except instead of getting ready for work, I make him breakfast everyday.  Eggs and sausage started becoming less and less special...So this Sunday I searched for a *new* and creative breakfast item....and something which didn't take 3 hours (cinnamon rolls...boo).  

Enter Dutch Baby.  30 minutes.  And I knew I would be Queen of Skyler's Heart for doing it. :)

(adapted from this recipe)

Ingredients 

3/4 cup wheat flour

1 tablespoon sugar

3 eggs

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoon butter

1/4 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup ground flax seed

TOPPING:
2 large apples, diced
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon wheat flour (for thickening the syrup)
2 teaspoons cold water

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, eggs and milk until smooth. Place butter in a 10-in. ovenproof skillet. Heat at 400 degrees F for 3-4 minutes or until melted; tilt pan to coat bottom and sides. Pour batter into cast iron skillet. Bake for 16-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. 
2. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, saute apples in butter until lightly browned. Stir in honey, lemon juice and cardamom. Combine flour and water until smooth; add to apple mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Spoon into pancake. Serve immediately. 
3. Wake up a sleepy husband from his slumber who will then stumble into the kitchen, immediately grin and exclaim "oooh, baby!"
4. Eat so fast that you almost forget to take a picture of it. :)

Very, very happy husband.  Sorry it took me a year to make it, honey... :)

Love, K

Ezekiel or Ellery?

My darling Baby E,

You are now 23 weeks and past the 1/2 way point!  It is so weird to look at the chart online and see your counting ticker be much closer to "newborn" than it is to "pregnant" now!

Here's what you looked like at 22 weeks (at Oktoberfest with daddy!):

Those "gas bubbles" I felt a few weeks ago have turned into some major kicking.  I'd so much rather sit and stare at my bare tummy for hours, over watching tv any day!  Just sitting, waiting, and watching for those jabs that remind me my precious baby will be here before I know it.  Thank you for kicking and punching me as often as you do.  I'm sure this will be the only time I will tell you that. :) So enjoy it now, little one!!

Your daddy and I have been working hard at putting together a nice little room, just for you!  We painted a baby armoire for all your clothes and a cabinet to hold all your diapers and other essentials for your sweet little bum. :)   The armoire used to be mine when I was younger and then both of your cousins used it also.  I am glad to pass it on to you now.  With a fresh coat of paint and new knobs and new contact paper in the drawers, it looks brand new!  We also got your crib last week.  You're lucky you have such a handy daddy!  He put it together for you all by himself.  Now it officially is looking like a room awaiting a baby.

 

Look! Your daddy is reading instructions! Good man. :)

 

(Yes, Daddy has a farmer's tan...this just means he's a hard laborer. ;)

Ta Da! You have a beautiful place to sleep! ... once we get a mattress that is ...

(And yes...I know.  Daddy has what I affectionately refer to as a "poop smear" on his tummy.  I pray for you everyday to not have one. And also for you to have my feet. However, PLEASE feel free to have his dimple!! :D)

Baby E, do you know what your name(s) will mean?  Your daddy and I picked them out.  Well, mostly I picked them out and he agreed and loved them too.  It was Christmas last year, 2009, when your daddy gave me a Baby Name book.  At that point, God knew you but I did not yet.  We found your name(s) before you were forming in me.  

Ezekiel Pierce:  Ezekiel (Hebrew) means Strengthened by God.  Pierce (English) means As Solid and Strong as a Rock.  

Daddy and I loved Ezekiel, and Pierce was chosen because of your amazing and incredible father:  Skyler Pierce Anderson. 

Ellery Grace: Ellery (English) means A Cheerful Woman; Bringer of Joy.  Grace (Latin) means Having God's Favor; the Personification of Beauty, Charm and Grace.

I found Ellery almost immediately in the Baby Name book and it just fell heavy on me and I knew I wanted a daughter named Ellery. Bringer of Joy.  I knew that surely you would be bringing us years of joy.  I can picture you already - adorable little toddler with wavy brown hair (and daddy's dimple?!), smiling and chattering up a storm with friends, family and strangers alike.  Giggling.  Spreading the laughter.  You will bring joy to those around you.   Your daddy took a little warming up to the name, since it was more unique but once he thought it over, he agreed it was a beautiful name and it will be yours if you are our little lady!  

Grace was chosen as a reminder of God's grace for us and also because your great grandmother named Grace is one of the most enjoyable and wonderful women I have ever met in my entire life.  She defines cheer and joy and has the most beautiful soul.  I will be honored to have a daughter named after that amazing woman someday. :)

Baby E, whichever one you are, I cannot wait to meet you and love on you.  I cannot wait to see how precious it will be to see your daddy with you.  I already know it's going to melt my heart and turn me into a sobbing mess.  Whatever happened to that girl that never cried?!  Surely she has left me long ago and turned me into a blubbering mess at times.  Even this morning, as I watched the most beautiful photo-journalism slideshow of a recent birth at Bella Vie that we had heard about, I sat here and I cried and cried and wondered how our experience there will be.  Wondered how quickly or slowly you'll make your appearance.  Thought of your daddy comforting me and supporting me.  Soon enough we'll experience it.  Soon enough we'll know, little one.  

Loving you,

Your momma K

Ok, I'll Give You a Peak...

I know, it's been just over a month since we've moved.  And you've asked me to show you pictures of our new resting (nesting?) place....it's just not quite there yet.  You know, since we have had two different out of state guests stay with us, a paintball tournament, and I was sick for two and a half weeks....Those combined have seemed to take up a considerable amount of time out of the four weeks we have lived here. :)

However, I am so excited that I am officially a stay at home wife and mom now and this week I have accomplished a LOT around the house.  Painting, painting, painting, hanging things on walls, and finally clearing out almost all of the boxes sitting around.  Feels so good to have it feel like home!  Doesn't hurt that our little humble abode was already quite homey before we even moved in. :)

So, with that said.  Here's a little sneak peak for you.  And some of my favorite things about this house. 

First of all, the front of the house, and the house in general.  Yep, the house in general is one of my favorite things. :)

The entire side yard lined with roses. My favorite flower.

The old glass doorknobs on all the doors.  So pretty. (Yet old comes with a price and sometimes I feel like I'm going to yank the knob off trying to close our bedroom door.)

The pellet stove.  We will stay cozy all winter!

The green kitchen cabinets with PLENTY of storage.

The kitchen faucet and tile backsplash (def. beneficial since we have no dishwasher and I splash water a LOT while washing dishes!!).

The storage space in the laundry room for all my baking goods to be out and easily accessible!

The plethora of windows throughout this entire house.  We love natural lighting! Mm hmm. 

The backyard.  Big enough for friends and even a baby pool next summer. :) Oh, and the fact that we have a giant bing cherry tree.  My favorite fruit ever.

The garden.  Next summer will be zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers and whatever else, homegrown...mmm. I can't wait. :)

And, I love that our bed is just far enough away from our bedroom windows that it makes things very awkward for our kitties to reach the window sill comfortably.

And soon, I will invite you in to see the rest of the house.  Give me at least another week of being home first. :)

Hope you all had a wonderful week.

Love, K

Have You Snuggled a Snoogle?

I have.  And I'm not going to lie: it's the most amazing thing I have ever experienced.  No doubt.

Have you heard of a Snoogle before?  I hadn't until I had just gotten pregnant and was reading another pregnant lady's blog and she mentioned it.  Some people have told me it was in a movie, which I can't even remember which one it was in now... Here's the website: http://leachco.stores.yahoo.net/snoogle.html.  There's even a video to tell you how awesome it is. :)

I kept it in mind and about a month or so into my pregnancy, I was already having sleeping issues.  I couldn't get comfortable (not even with my memory foam mattress, which I was a big baby about and made Skyler let me purchase last year after we got married.) and I couldn't get a good nights sleep.  So I hinted to Skyler about the Snoogle...maybe a time or two. (or maybe twenty times).   About 3 months into my pregnancy, I was out to dinner with my mother in law and we decided to stop by Burlington Coat Factory to browse their baby items afterwards.  This was the first I had actually seen a Snoogle.  I think I might have whooped and done a little dance.  And then I saw the price tag: $40.  Yikes.  For a pillow?!  Seriously?  I quickly put the pillow back and maybe pouted a little.  We continued on and walked around for another hour or so, but I couldn't get that Snoogle out of my mind. "Would Skyler be mad if I spent $40 on a pillow???" I wondered.  As we were about to head downstairs to the cashier, my mother in law insisted I go grab that Snoogle.  I didn't hesitate much and ran off to grab my new best friend off the shelf again.  

This is my new BFF.  Pay no attention to the lady.  She is just a prop in this picture of awesomeness.

The first week of using this pillow, I finally achieved the best pregnancy sleep I had ever had.  My body fell into such deep sleep while using this, that I no longer woke up for my 2 am or 4 am bathroom break during that first week.  I slept eight hours straight.  I would wake up every morning that week just ecstatic, "Skyler! I didn't wake up ONCE to go to the bathroom last night!!!" After two weeks of me raving about this pillow, Skyler decided he needed to see what all my fuss was about.  So he took a nap and curled right up with my Snoogle.  He woke up with the biggest smile and sleepily said, "I think I'm going to steal your Snoogle."  

It's been more than two months now of this joyful sleeping.  I would 100% recommend this awesome pillow to any pregnant lady, or anyone who just wants a Snoogle to snuggle!!  Every morning when I get out of bed first (frequently), Skyler smiles at me, and immediately rolls to my side of the bed and snuggles up to my Snoogle.  But beware - your husband can turn into a Snoogle-snatcher.  Mine has. :) Some mornings, he'll immediately snatch my pillow up the second I roll out of bed, even when I've only gotten up to go to the bathroom (yes, I only had a week of break from my middle of the night trips.).  And I have to fight to get it back. :)

This is "technically" a pregnant lady pillow...But I'm not all about technicalities.  I can assure you that Mr. Snoogle will stay around looong after my pregnant days are over. :D

Snoogle: You are a life-saver.  Thank you for assisting me in the best sleep I've ever had.   

Love, K

P.S. Turns out $40 is actually cheap for a Snoogle - most other places go for about $50+!  But I am convinced; even $50 for a Snoogle would not be a waste of money.  Great sleep is priceless. :)

You Are 20 Weeks Old, Baby E!

My dear Baby E,

It's been 7 weeks since I last wrote about you!! Eeek.  I will say I have not been the best mommy at taking weekly pictures of your growth in my tummy.  I have forgotten at least twice...but I'm trying to get semi-regular pics!

You are now 20 weeks old. We are half way there - can you believe it?!  In just 20 weeks (please come out on time!), we will have eye contact for the very first time!  I cannot even imagine what that will be like.  At our appointment with our midwife yesterday, she told us a story of a recent newborn who came out and watched very intently as mommy spoke, and then turned and looked at his daddy when he spoke.  He didn't care about the other voices in the room, but he knew his mommy and daddy's voices.  I really hope you will know ours just like that!  Daddy was joking yesterday that you'll be confused because we really both have two voices: our normal voice and our voice for when we make up what you (or Scooter or Kitty) are saying... :) You'll just have to know 4 voices, ok?!

I told your big cousin Kaily that you can hear voices now and will recognize them when you come out if you hear them enough.  She is talking to you all the time now when we are together!  She even played your very first game of patty-cake with you.

You are finally big enough that I have been able to feel you moving around.  You are an active child - my goodness!!  It used to be mostly morning time.  You'd be up when I got up and you'd greet me 'good morning' with some joyful dancing around!  I can always feel you off to one side when I wake up.  A big hard lump. :) Daddy got to feel you for the very first time this week!  You must have been doing some hardcore aerobics because I put daddy's hand on my tummy and he felt you right away.  Still watching to see when I can actually see you moving though.  You also have been tricking me lately with how often I have to go to the bathroom!  So often I think I really, really need to go, but it's all a false alarm...Not sure exactly what you're doing in there, but mommy doesn't like being teased so much, little one! :)

In the last few weeks, mommy and daddy have kept very very busy.  We moved into a new (old?) little house and have been getting settled since then.  You'll get your own room now!  Isn't that exciting?  Now you don't have to share with daddy's surfboards, school desk, camping gear, paintball gear, etc. etc. etc.  I am so excited to make a lovely little room for you.  I will do my best to not make it too frilly, just in case you are my little Ezekiel. :) (No fear, there will be NO pink in the room. hehe). 

Here are some (scattered) pictures of your growth since the last time:

15 Weeks

(No 16 Weeks...)

17 Weeks

 18 Weeks:

 (Sorry...I definitely missed 19 weeks)

20 Weeks:

Best of all, we got another ultrasound this week and got to see you again!  This was the one where we could have found out if you were our little Ezekiel Pierce or Ellery Grace...but we really wanted to be surprised when you make your official appearance!  So, the ultrasound lady had to be very careful not to show us anything and moved around my tummy like lightning.  "See the hand?" "See the foot?" "See the profile?"...She barely gave me time to "see", but I understand she was trying to not let you move fast enough that you would flash us.  She gave us a wonderful present at the end of it - a dvd with your video (still not sure when she captured the video pieces since she moved around so fast!) and with a slideshow of more pictures of you.  

You are so darling, little one.  I love your amazing little fingers and cute little nose.  I cannot wait to see you eye to eye. 

Keep on dancing for momma. :)

We love you Baby E. 

-K