Body: Ever-rounder

With four and a half weeks to go, my belly has become the center of life in our home. Not only do I feel the life within me moving and occupying my inner sanctum of the womb, but Finn and Lucy love to touch and feel my belly too. "Baby," points Lucy (sometimes to my chest, when I then redirect her to my belly). And, who knew that pregnant bellies make great parking spots for matchbox cars?

My only dilemma (aside from the constant rearranging of pillows while sleeping) is what to name this precious babe. I have a name in my head, but I'm not sure it's "the one." I know a few women who say they don't even share any of the names they're considering for their impending arrival. But, I figured I'd get the blogging world's opinion on this baby boy's name. Who knows, maybe one of you will be the proud namer of this next child-o-mine.

So, what say ye? What do you think we should name this boy?

Comment Call

This back entryway closet is driving me nuts! There are always shoes in the way when I walk in the door or go into the basement. Does anyone have a solution to the shoe clutter problem? I'm trying to think of something that won't get in the way, and yet will allow me to easily contain the shoes.

Let me know what you think!

D-d-d-d-d-d-Dora

If there were anyone besides her dad (and then me) who Lucy would prefer, it's Dora. She has a Dora pillow that her Grandma Scrimsher made for her and she does a slinky body dance everytime I lay her down on it. She chose a Dora movie at the library this morning.

Aside from loving Dora, Lucy, at 20 months, loves:

• eating while sitting on any adult's lap.... ("yap" she calls it)
• eating raisins, fruit snacks, anything you give to her in a bag
• her brother Finn
• her Daddy: she is 100% a Daddy's girl
• taking baths
• riding in the stroller...she is a sitter in contrast to Finn who is an active mover
• shoes, any kind, anyone's, any size
• having books read to her

She is sweet and also sassy. Sometimes I want to put a leash on her so she won't get into everything I'm trying to do. Other times, she just sits still in my lap as good as gold.

Thanks for providing lots of energy and sweetness to our family, Lil' Luce!

Gettin' the Jitters

Last night Travis took his new plane out for it's maiden voyage. As we were driving out there, I noticed he seemed a little tense and distracted. He said he always gets nervous before he flies new planes because he doesn't want to crash them. It's like the feeling before he takes a test, he said. His palms were getting sweaty even. I started laughing so hard.

And, btw, he landed it fine with no wings or parts to tape. Phew. Glad that "test" is over.

Arousing the Divine

I couldn't help myself this weekend. I had to make this cake that my masterful baker friend Sara made for a baby shower last week. Try it at your own risk. It is to die for.

No Sissies Here

Saturday I was cleaning the bathroom when downstairs I hear a loud thud! on the hardwood floor. I heard the initial cry-out, then a really long pause, then the floodgates opened and Lucy was in a full-teary-eyed screaming fit. She must have been roughhousing a little too much with her older brother. Poor thing. I've never seen a bigger goose egg. She got plenty of Tylenol and TLC after that.

Craft Call!

I know you out-of-towners are going to want to fly in for this one!

Awake! Friday!

The kitchen's morning greeting.Yesterday's laundry: clean, but not yet folded.

"Fold me!" it screams.

Turning on the Beatles and shaking our bon-bons.

Or doing the zulu dance.
After all, it is Friday. Let's kick it into gear and celebrate!

Craving Crafts?

I couldn't pass up this sweet baby photo montage at a yard sale a couple weekends ago. I want to take pictures of the upcoming baby in similar fashion and replace the ones in the picture with them.

So what do you do with clearance frames from Target?When you have a huge church craft activity to plan, you think of cheap (free) treatments.
The artsy-fartsy.
The letter-loving mother.

The hip girlie one.

Endless options!

And, I've had cake plates on the brain too lately.

Do you like this one? Fancy-schmancy one?
Or this one? The plain sophisticate?

Did you know you make these by adhering a candlestick to a plate?

Simple. Affordable. Classic.

Abundance

I woke up this morning after dreaming about Stephanie Nielson and her sister Courtney. (It must have been the NBC clip I watched yesterday of the interview). It was the day before the crash and we all knew the fate of the next day except for Stephanie. She was still very happy, dancing and enjoying her children and family and friends who were there visiting with her. I asked Courtney, "Should we tell her?" And she said, "No." I don't know why exactly, only that the feeling in the room was that either way, whether she knew or didn't know, she would go through with it anyways.

I woke up especially in love with my kids and thankful for the new day. As I got ready to go run some errands, I was grateful that even though I don't even put on make-up anymore that I can be a beautiful person, even if others can't see past the plain maternity t-shirted lady with two small kids at her coattails.

It's a good feeling to know who you are and to know that what you're doing is valuable to at least some of the world's inhabitants. I loved reading this this morning too. She has written so well what I felt today too.

This is my motto for the next little while. If I keep moving I won't get too antsy to have this baby, and I won't miss Travis too much while he's in the throes of his studies.

Do these paintings look familiar?

I made a little addition to them (just taped on). I think it's cute.

And last night I discovered an easy solution to having a practically bare fridge. It's called beans and rice, but it's more than just that (maybe Sarah's Hot Pot?).

I sauteed a sweet onion in some Smart Balance. Then I added 1/2 packet of taco seasoning, rice and enough chicken broth to cook the rice. When the rice was tender, I added some leftover pinto beans.

And, I had some different colored peppers, so I tossed them in some olive oil and salt and pepper and roasted them in the oven on 400 for about 25 minutes.

I like the rice with some sour cream and a little cheese and then I like to dip tortilla chips in it. There are endless topping possibilities though, like salsa, guacamole, diced tomatoes, you get the idea.

Inspiration

I was so happy when I saw that Design Mom had linked to one of her guest bloggers from last year, Ryan Wright. Cookie Mag did an interview with him and tour of his beautiful home. He was my inspiration to buy the Cafe Tolix chairs for my dining room. If only I had that beautiful antique table he put with his chairs! Beautiful. Sparse, yet warm. Well-chosen pieces.

Go here for the full tour and pictures.

A Summery Sunday

Thinking Fall

This has been my standard pumpkin bread recipe for ten years (since high school). I took it to a playgroup lunch the other day and some friends asked for the recipe. I even used some mashed sweet potatoes because I was a little short on pumpkin. I also used Eggbeaters egg substitute and it turned out fine.

Fantastic Pumpkin Bread
American Buffet recipe book

4 eggs

3 cups sugar

1 cup oil

3 1/3 cups sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

1/2-30 ounce can pumpkin pie filling

1 cup walnuts

1 cup raisins

Combine eggs and sugar in mixer bowl; beat until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in oil. Mix flour, powder, soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together. Add to batter alternately with pumpkin filling, mixing well after each addition. Stir in walnuts and raisins. Fill 4 or 5 small coffee cans sprayed with nonstick cooking spray 1/2 full (I use small loaf pans). Bake at 325 F for 1 hour or until done. 24 servings.

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Needing a good read, I pulled off the shelf a book I'd received for a Christmas gift some years earlier. I think the giver was inspired to give me this particular book because I am prone to overexerting myself on things of little importance. It's called Simplify by Carolyn J. Rasmus. I wanted to share a few quotes that struck me last night. Maybe you're like me and just need a little poke in focusing priorities. (Do you ever find yourself aimlessly surfing the Internet at night? I do....).

One of the ways Satan lessens your effectiveness and weakens your spiritual strength is by encouraging you to spend large blocks of your time doing things that matter very little.

---Elder M. Russell Ballard

That we may do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance---that is essential.

---Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

What important things are you involved in right now?

Make Me a Brunette! No, Give Me Pincurls!

These pictures could possibly look better than my own yearbook pictures.

I swear this one looks like a picture I've seen of my mom late 70's, early 80's.
I think this last one really shows what a great jawline I could have.

Go to yearbookyourself.com for all the fun of seeing yourself in funny hairdos!

Typical Morning

Finn's bowl. My bowl.
Lucy's bowl.
There's something wrong with this picture. She will eat twice as much if I let her sit and eat with me on my lap. I'm a softie. I always give in.