Homemade Gifts for the Girl

A couple of months ago, my mom presented me with this sweet little baby quilt that she made. I love the chubby ballerinas, and what is sweetest about the whole thing is that she bought the fabric when she first found out I was pregnant (the first time), over eight years ago, just in case it was a girl. It wasn't, of course, and neither was the next, or next, but she kept the fabric all along, hoping to use it. I love it. Thanks Mom!

Another homemade gift that stole my heart was made by my talented friend Shyann. You should have heard the "ooohs" and "ahhhs" that filled the room when I unwrapped this beautiful little dress at my baby shower. Everything about this dress is perfection - the colors, the style, the ribbon in the back, the flower clip that goes with it...and most of all the skill with which it was sewn. Really, these pictures don't even come close to doing it justice. It is a dainty little number that I can't wait to see on my little girl. Chad giggled like a school girl when he saw it too. Thanks Shyann!

Hot Day

It was eighty degrees yesterday. I forgot how hot 80 feels in March, and I dressed my boys way too warmly for a picnic in the park. It was crowded with kids in shorts and besides a few moments of fun here and there, we were all a little miserable.

When we got home and the kids asked if they could play in our sprinklers, I immediately said, "YES YES YES!!"

It was blissful.

Hanging Out

There is a full moon tomorrow night. A "Super" full moon. I will be 38 weeks pregnant, but this time, I won't be hoping for any gravitational pull to put me in labor. I will be laying on a board that has been propped up against my couch, upside down, probably reading or watching/listening to the Gilmore Girls.

What? How do you spend your Saturday nights?

I found out on Tuesday that in between weeks 36 and 37, my baby turned breech on me. Total shock. I knew her movements had changed a great deal, but I figured it was just because she was growing and had less room. Turns out it is because her head is in my ribs and her feet are caressing my cervix.

What I have tried so far to "flip" her:

The breech tilt

The forward leaning inversion (shown later on the page)

Sticking an ice pack on her head while sitting in a warm bath (to try to encourage her down towards the warmth)

Having a chiropractor perform the Webster technique (twice so far)

Obviously nothing has worked so far. I cried when my midwife checked today and gave me the news and it wasn't until my Saffron date with Chad that my mood melted away. I've been rocking back and forth between obsessiveness and calm the last few days.

On the one hand, I know that I want to try everything I can to avoid a c-section. I know it wouldn't be the end of the world to have one, but I know that recovery is much more difficult, and if there are things I can try to avoid one, I should (and I want to). On the other hand, I could try as hard as possible and she could never flip, and the later I get in this pregnancy, the less likely it is to happen. And I need to have a life (and sleep). Maybe that sounds dramatic, but my chiropractor has mentioned me going in every day. With almost an hour drive to get there, plus the time it takes to get it done.....I really really don't have that much time my average day for something that may or may not work. And I can't be waking up at 3:30 every morning, obsessing over whether I am doing enough, and then snapping at my kids all day.

So I am trying to take it day by day, praying that I will be guided to do the things I need to do to keep my baby safe, one way or another. I keep telling myself that, one way or another, she will be here in a couple of weeks, and I will be happy and grateful for that whether I have had an incision or not.

March Showers

Baby Shower

Today the lovely ladies of my ward threw a baby shower for me and Sarah - a gorgeous and incredibly sweet red-head who is also expecting her fourth child just a couple of days after me - also a girl. We had soups, salads, and lots lots of pink gifts.

This is the only picture I have of my friend Bonnie, hostess extraordinaire. She is always doing something for someone!

We all had a good laugh about what people must have thought when she went to pick up the cake.

I felt very loved by how excited everyone was to adorn my little girl in the cutest and sweetest little outfits. One outfit in particular made me cry. My mom gave me my blessing dress. Made 30 years ago by one of my mom's friends and still in perfect condition, my little daughter will now be blessed in it. Thanks Mom!

Thank you to everyone who came and helped with our shower. As Chad went through the gifts with me at home, he was just dumbfounded by the genorsity of everyone. I am so lucky to be surrounded by such thoughtful women.

Afternoons with Gabe

When I get Oliver to sleep during naptime, I come downstairs (on the days that I don't fall asleep as well), and ask Gabe what he wants to do. This is our time to do the things that Oliver might normally make more difficult. We play Just Dance, practice piano, make snowflakes and paper chains, and read books without interruption. Today we got to try out the new Play-Doh toys that Gabe bought with money he had been saving up. Do you know how relaxing (and fun!) Play-Doh can be? Gabe makes jokes, and talks my ear off about his imaginary "war" (which is really just what he calls his fantasy land, full of dragons, snakes that talk, and men made of lava and water).

Gabe is almost 5 1/2 now. Since he is has an October birthday, a lot of his friends are already in kindergarten. I know he is ready to go - he can read and he listens to instructions quite well - he loves his preschool days twice a week. I am glad though, that I get these extra moments of alone time with him. I know that those moments will be harder to find in a month or so, and for now I am cherishing them.

Keepin' It Real Wednesday

Dear Nieces and Nephews,

Thank you for coming to my birthday party.

Thank you for the birthday hugs.

Thank you dancing with me.

But my little pals,

When I said, "No presents!"

I meant it.

Not even surprises left behind in the upstairs toilet.

Love,
Aunt Katie

I LOVED my birthday! (Lots of exclamation points and capitals here)

I decided that for my 30th birthday, I didn't want any huge surprises...I just wanted to do exactly what I wanted to do. So I threw myself a Just Dance 2 party. Chad picked up a few Costco pizzas and I asked my the guests (my family members) to bring appetizers in lieu of gifts, and boy did they deliver. I told them, "Think to yourself - what would pregnant Katie want?" and I was so touched that they seemed to know exactly what to bring. Sabina made incredible fruits pizzas (that the kids gobbled down), my mom brought bread to dip in delicious hummus, and Levi and Audra brought brownies. It was really the perfect meal.

I tried not to fill up too much because we spent the WHOLE NIGHT dancing. I mean, really. Almost everyone gave it a shot, and I was never short on dance partners. I loved how much the kids got into it (even my little Ollie), and we were all shocked and amazed when the star of the evening turned out to be my 8 year old nephew Santiago. NO ONE (expect me, of course, because you know, I totally rock this game, even 8 months pregnant ;) could beat him. It was awesome.

Outside we inagurated our new fire pit and had a variety of different s'more options. The men seemed to gravitate to the fire, along with my niece, who almost attempted to roast a marshmallow using her fingers and more than almost started a little fire in the mulch of my flower bed.

It was a great way to turn 30. I love my family! If they could have ALL been there it would have been perfect.

Mrs. Boring ;o)

I badly needed a new hair-do. I wanted something different. I searched online to try and find a picture of something that I wanted, but the fact of the matter is, celebrity hairstyles aren't for me. I am not super trendy, I am super low-maintenance, and I have a baby coming in 5 weeks, so I didn't want anything that would need a touch-up in 6 weeks (plus I am too cheap to convince myself to go back anytime near that for touch-ups). So I really didn't find any pictures online that I thought would realistically work for me, right now.

I have gone to a professional for a haircut maybe 6 times in my life, and only once before to anywhere more upscale than Great Clips. I have never had it colored professionally. To me, going to get my hair done is about as relaxing as going the Dr. I am always happy that I did afterwards, but I don't like the process. Anyway, I couldn't even work myself up to making an appointment - Chad did it for me, and I was tempted to cancel in.

Boy, with all this lead-up, you are probably expecting dramatic results, so I am just going to tell you to drop those expectations now :o) I went in this morning and had a good talk with my very impressive stylist. When I said I was low-maintenance, she suggested that I get lowlights, since they can just grow out if you don't want to keep them up. I said okay. I said I have been trying to grow my hair out for years but always end up chopping it off at this blah stage. I told her that I don't spend a lot of time on my hair, and she listened when I said I didn't want anything that would my face look wider.. I really liked her - she was realistic and didn't want to do anything that would require me to come back in very soon or that would require a lot of styling every day.

When it was over, I wasn't blown away by my hair, but very very pleased. I still look like myself, but a lot livelier and I feel pretty again, which isn't an easy feat this far along in my pregnancy. Honestly, I don't think my kids can tell a difference, but I can! I guess I went in not knowing what I wanted and the stylist figured it out for me. I am happy with it!

Then I got to go stand in line at the DMV for hours because my license expires tomorrow! Fun! At least I will hopefully have a decent new picture for it!

Reflections before the girl comes

People tell me all the time,

"Oh, be glad you have all boys! Girls are drama!"

I laugh to myself. My boys aren't afraid of tears, tantrums, bossiness or theatrics. Maybe this will change as they get older, but for now, our house is full of drama.

I do think that having all boys brings a level of physicality to our lives that all girls might not. All day long, I am telling them to keep their hands off of each other. No hitting, no biting, no kicking - just lay off! And boy do they egg each other on - sometimes just out of boredom, I think. They all know what buttons to push, even the two year old.

I worry about them sometimes. I want them to grow up with a firm bond - always knowing that they can count on each other.

Thankfully, along with the hitting and yelling comes so much silly laughter that Chad lovingly calls them "the dork squad." They still like to cuddle each other on the couch in the morning. Last week Gabe cut his finger and Oliver sat next to him, hugging him, with genuine tears in his eyes. Gabe is getting better and better at finding ways to involve Oliver in his playing, and when Colin comes home from school, both of them perk up.

And they all three share one thing in common:

They all still adore their mama in a way that no one else can touch.

Orchids in Black and White

Scenes from a stay-at-home-mom

Keepin' It Real Wednesday

Making chicken fajitas.....

One final bite at the end and it needs more zing....

So I grab some more chili powder from the counter and pour it on.

(I have found that it is hard to use too much chili powder).

Only, I didn't grab the chili powder.

(It is not hard to use too much ground red pepper.)





Someone please send in my application for this show. Ask Joshie to recommend me.

Only In His Dreams

I hope you all had a nice Valentine's Day. Let me tell you a little about Chad's day. He was home sick from work, recovering from some flu-like bug that had him sleeping for hours on end. The only gifts he got from me were some "cold and allergy" bath salts, accompanied by an assortment of Gatorade. Not the funnest day.

However, he went into work today to find a Valentine's Day surprise waiting for him. On his desk sat a bag of chocolates with two photos of me. Sort of. My face on different bodies. Much different bodies. Take a looksie for yourself folks.

.

Who would pull such a prank? Well, since my brother Bobby received a very similar photo of his wife (he sits close to Chad in the same office - isn't that sweet?), and they happen to have a common relative that occasionally does night security in their office, I have very strong suspicions of who the culprit is.

Yes, my FATHER.

I know that my dad has NO photoshop skills, so there is also an accomplice out there somewhere.

My dad has been telling Chad for quite awhile now that he needs to spruce his cubicle up with some pictures - I guess he decided to take matters into his own hands.

On a side note, I am thinking of going blonde. What do you think?

*Edited to add: I just searched google images for "pregnant bikini" and found this picture. Tori Spelling?! Now I am just insulted. Well, at least they didn't use this picture (not for the faint of heart).

*Found the second picture. It's Miley!!!!!

Show Him You Love Him - with bacon

Did you ever read Light Freshments Served, the now (sadly) defunct blog? When that blog ended, I continued to follow the blog of one of the contributors, the hilarious Vern. A few weeks ago she posted about some amazing cupcakes she created, and I knew I needed to try them out. When I went to the aforementioned Valentine's Day party, I had the perfect opportunity to make them.

Now these are not the kind of cupcake you make for your child to take to his class on his birthday. For one thing, they are way too much work to be smeared on little hands and classroom tables. For another, in these days of childhood obesity, you might get complaints from the rest of the parents for introducing their children to the wonders of candied bacon.

That's right folks - it is bacon pieces, mixed with melted butter and then sprinkled with sugar - and yes, it is as good as it sounds.

Without further ado, presenting Vern's Chocolate Cupcakes with Maple Frosting and Candied Bacon.

So, let me admit straight away that I did not use Vern's recipe for chocolate cake. Why? Because I am lazy. I used my old stand-by chocolate cake recipe that comes mostly from boxes and bags.

The embellishment is what gave me the most trouble and mostly because I am an idiot, and when I first melted the sugar in a pan, I decided to use a rubber spatula to stir, which slowly melted in with the sugar, making a gooey rubbery disgusting embellishment not fit to top a flip flop, let alone these cupcakes. So I had to start over, this time using a non-plastic spoon to stir. Chad and the boys seemed to think the heart embellishments would have looked better if they were uniform and pretty, but I liked the arty look.

Vern's cupcakes were much prettier than mine, but I think that as soon as people see the bacon on top, that is pretty much all they can think about anyway. I noticed that it is was mostly the men at the party who took to these babies, with one of them pointing to the bacon and exclaiming, "Let me just tell you, this is GENIUS."

Just a side note, I should have made these the night before because although I let them cool before the party, the leftovers were much better the next day after sitting in the fridge all night.

Thanks for the recipe Vern, and keep doing what you do. Visit her whenever you need a laugh!