1 week old

I truly find it hard to believe this little ladybug is already a week old. She is still sweet and cuddly and sleepy. So sleepy. I didn't know babies slept so much. (Knock on wood)

Today we took pictures of the bath. She is a little fussy at first, but settles right in and does great.

And we took pictures of her in a rare moment of being awake and calm. Usually if she's awake (which is a rarity itself) she's eating. But today she took a little more time to enjoy the world around her.

Today I am most grateful for

the safe and healthy arrival of

Virginia Ruth

8 lbs 10 oz

20.5 inches long

She is sweet, chubby cheeked, and cuddly.

I honestly don't even know how to begin to describe what a sweet and tender experience the last few days have been. She came less than two hours after my water broke, and less than an hour after arrival at the hospital. I feel like her labor and delivery were in every way a sweet and tender mercy. And little Ginny is herself the most tender part of all.


I am in love.

And so is Raymond. He wakes up from nap and sleep saying, "baba" (baby) and going to find her. He wants to hold, kiss, touch, and look at her as much as we will let him. 

Virginia is (so far) a champion eater and sleeper. She cuddles and snuggles and begs to be loved. And without doubt ever person in this house is smitten.

 

ps These photos just don't even begin to do her justice. She has the sweetest, roundest little face with a rosebud mouth and kissable cheeks. Her hair is dark with bit of blonde, and about as thick as Raymond's is currently. Long fingers and toes and a little body that is more ball than anything else. Someday we'll live by one of our photography siblings so we can post better pictures, but until then, these are taking with love.

Do It Yourself mixes

As I've mentioned before, we (aka Raymond) eat a lot of oatmeal and waffles in this house. (Disclaimer: I eat a lot of cereal. A ridiculous amount, actually. Sadly, I really can't eat oatmeal. It's a texture thing.).

Anyhow, oatmeal and waffles. Raymond even knows where the waffle maker is kept (above the fridge) and will reach frantically for it if he gets it into his head he wants some. And being the mom I am, I usually comply even if it's well past "breakfast time." Leftovers are frozen and whipped out at all hours of the day.

A few months ago I realized these two foods alone were costing way more than necessary. All those little oatmeal packets. And Bisquick is pretty pricey if you ask me. So I started doing some internet research for homemade Bisquick and instant oatmeal recipes. I thought I would share what I've found. Just in case you have a one-year-old who loves these items as much as mine does. Sadly I don't remember where I found these recipes, but I don't take credit for them. Someone else out there was wise enough to figure it out. Here's what we do...

Instant Oatmeal
In a big bowl sift together:

• 1 cup quick oats turned to dust in the food processor or blender (if using blender, do no more than 1/2 cup at a time)
• 5 cups quick oats 
• 1 1/3 cup powdered milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 T cinnamon (original recipe called for 1T but Jeremy says it's too strong)
• 1 cup dried fruit (optional. I've never added this)

Store in an air-tight container. 

I really like making this is bulk rather than "packet" size. Some days Raymond wants a banana before oatmeal and so I make a little bit smaller bowl. Other days he eats later and appears famished, so I made a bigger bowl. It's been great. 

Disclaimer: I have no idea if this tastes good because the idea of putting oatmeal in my mouth makes me want to gag. Raymond seems to like it. Maybe it has lots of sugar? Maybe it's less than Quaker Oats instant packets? I really have no idea. Let me know what you think if you try it.


Homemade Bisquick
Sift together:

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups wheat flour
• 3T-1/4 cup sugar (I mixed two recipes here and do somewhere between 1/8 and 1/4 cup)
• 1 1/3 cup powdered milk
• 1 T salt
• 1/4 cup baking powder
• 3/4 cup shortening
• (1 t cream of tartar--one recipe I have called for this, and I used it the first time but not the second with no noticeable difference)

Now you are going to need to cut in your shortening. I do this a little at a time in my food processor with just the flour since I don't have a pastry knife. Either way (food processor or pastry knife) cut the shortening into the flour before adding and sifting the rest of the ingredients. Then store in an airtight container. It will last longer if stored in the refrigerator or freezer. We eat it fast enough that I don't bother with that.

Disclaimer: I have only used this mix to make waffles (mix about equal parts Bisquick mix with water--until it's a good consistency--and add a splash of vegetable oil). I have no idea if this would make good biscuits or not, but I do know it makes great part-wheat waffles!

Next up on my To Try list: homemade hot cocoa. I'll keep you posted.

A season of thanks

As a little girl I think my favorite holidays were Halloween and Christmas. In college I fell in love with Valentine's Day, and Halloween took a back seat. In recent years Thanksgiving has steadily moved up in the ranks.

I love that this holiday seems to be almost completely unsullied by the typical commercialism of the holidays. In fact, except for the turkey vouchers and advertisements for cranberry sauce, most stores have moved right on to Christmas trees and reindeer.

But I refuse to let my fall move too fast. No Christmas lights in early November around here. I love focusing November on the quite calm of gratitude. It is the perfect prelude to the busy season ahead.

For the past two years I put a piece of fall-colored cardstock on our fridge right around the beginning of the month with the heading "I am Thankful For..." and we spent the month filling it up with our large and small tidbits of thanks. This year I wanted something a bit more central, more visual. So I created a "gratitude tree" out of brown paper and cardstock, to become our table "centerpiece" for the coming weeks.

I love the way it is becoming a constant reminder for me to mentally note and verbally say the things I am grateful for all day long (even if it's just Raymond listening!).

I started with just a few leaves with quotes or scriptures about gratitude...

And we have been adding leaves each night at dinner of the things we are grateful for. 

I feel an "attitude of gratitude" already sparked in just the past few days. There is so much to be grateful for!

The boy lovingly refered to as "The Man Child"

 
Well poor little Raymond certainly hasn't made the center stage on this blog for quite some time. But that doesn't mean he isn't large and in charge around here. Somehow over night he went from a baby to a toddler. That's not to say he's lost all his baby-ness. Because I'm pretty sure his cheeks are as kissable as they were on day one. But he has mastered the art of puckering up himself... which is just about as tender as it comes.

Before I lose my head, I want to record some of the latest and greatest of the Life of RayJ.

1. He (as always) loves books. We went through weeks of reading (for hours, literally) the Jazz book. Random, I know. Now we read the Fisher Price Baby magazine over and over. And flip endlessly through the pages of Gyo Fugikawa's ABC book and the Julie Andrews Songs, Poems, and Lullaby collection.

2. But actually, what we spend most of our time looking at (at Raymond's request) is the Church's spiral bound Gospel Art Book. Really, the boy knows where this book is at any given time. He can say Jesus, Moses (probably the cutest thing I've ever heard... it's more like Mooo-ses with his little lips puckered for the long ooo), and prophets (more like sa-sets). He can point out Jesus in any given picture and randomly throughout the day points at the picture of Christ on our wall saying, "Jesus" over and over. It's quite humbling, in fact, to witness his sincere and completely voluntary interest in all things "Jesus" or "prophets" related. He regularly flips through Preach My Gospel, the hymnbook, the Children's Songbook, the Gospel Principles manual, the Temples Ensign, and of course the Gospel Art Book. If I try and put any of these books out of reach, the boy knows and lets me hear it.

3. He is our little explorer. I swear he wants to get into every cupboard, nook, and cranny of this apartment. It might just be a long winter, folks. He is happiest when let out of doors for his explorations.

4. He is as social as ever. He smiles and charms anyone (particuarly in church) who looks his way. He's never happier than when he has a captive audience. With that said, he still takes a considerable amount of time to warm up to new situations and people... and will give the blank stare for quite some time before the grins come out. But once they do, watch out! He is a champion at the institute nursery--always happy and playing. But, I must admit he's a mama's boy to the tee. He won't even always let Jeremy carry him when we are out and about. He loves to be held by Mom, that's for sure.

5. If I let him, he would subsist on Marshmallow Maties alone. He stands at the pantry door banging his heart out to get them all day long. Other favorite foods (do I even admit this?) are "nanas," yogurt, (ahem) hot dogs and corn dogs, tater tots, and waffles. I do make him eat oatmeal every morning (gotta start the day healthy at least), and I squeeze some peas into his diet occasionally (the only vegetable he really likes). Healthy eating is a work in progress, right?

6. He would color (aka throw crayons and colored pencils around the house) all day long if I let him. But, sadly for him, I don't. He is slowly getting the hang of actually "coloring." Man, he loves his crayons!

7. He is a jabberer to no end. And, happily, he is finally saying more words with more clarity. The running list includes: eat, out, up, off, ball (ba), bath (ba... much like ball, but usually pretty clear when used in context), dada, mama, leche (milk), baby (baba), soft (saaaa), night night (nana), yeah, all done (a da), hot, toast (tost), bye bye (surprisingly clear!), and (as mentioned) nana, Jesus, prophet, Moses, and I'm sure there are more I can't think of... he also says quite a few animal sounds (baa baa, nay nay, hee haw, ssss (snake), mooo, roar, buzzz, meow, fish sound, oo oo ee ee aa (monkey), yippee dee (pea cock), cheep cheep (chicks), woof woof...)

8. By and large, he is a very happy boy. Despite the trantrums he likes to throw when he doesn't get his way (which seem to be diminishing as I simply ignore them and him while he bangs his head on the floor or wall), he mostly is smiley and happy. We certainly have fun together... although (of course) the most fun is had when Dad is home. Mom is much calmer with him than Dad, that's for sure! (Who else will tickle and tackle and throw balls in the air to no end?)

I certainly admit I love, love, love this stage. He is always doing something new and exciting. I love watching him make new connections and say and do new things. I love seeing the little person he is becoming. I am excited to see how he reacts and changes to a new baby sister, and I'm confident he's going to handle it beautifully.

Pictures taken by Stanford Richens last Friday. Hooray for photographers in the family!

Things I love about being pregnant

I'm definitely feeling that this pregnancy is winding down, slowly but surely. Come what may, in at most six weeks or so there will be a lovely little lady in our house.  And actually my fingers are crossed (and you can cross yours too!) she comes more around Thanksgiving.

On Wednesday I had an ultra sound to double check that an ache/pain I've been feeling wasn't anything serious. I tell you, it filled me right up with Thanksgiving gratitude to hear the nurse tell me everything looks "perfect." It was strange to see that squished little body in the ultra sound (so different than at 18-20 weeks when you can actually see the body and body parts!).  She's weighing in at 6 lbs 9 oz already, and growing beautifully.

The whole experience has made me think about why pregnancy is in so many ways a joyful time for me. (Minus, I must admit, those weeks of nausea in the beginning. I don't cherish those weeks very much yet. Maybe someday). But on the whole, I really love being pregnant. And for so many many reasons...

• I love the wonder of it all. The absolute miracle of a baby being created inside of me. I simply stand all amazed that this body of mine knows what to do and how to do it. That somehow, a little human life is taking shape. It is truly godly.
• I love the way pregnancy causes me to reflect on my womanhood. It seems that these months stir me up into deep reflection about what it means to be a woman, a mother, a daughter. I become very introspective about my identity in a calming, soothing way.
• Pregnancy pushes me to be more selfless, something I always need help with and for which I am so grateful.
• I love (even as I struggle) the hard work of getting ready for labor and delivery. With both of these pregnancies--for differing reasons and in differing ways--I have worked really hard to be prepared for the climax event of birth. It is soul searching, faith building, and in every way stretching. I am a better person because of it.
• I love the growing belly! It amazes me sometimes that it can get bigger (and yet I know it can!) I smile to see my shadow on the sidewalk or my reflection in the mirror. 
• I love the connection that is made between mother and child during the womb stage. I love the kicks, the little games we play, the imaginings of who and what she'll be. 
• I love the nesting. I must admit, my nesting urges have slowed considerably in the last week or two (even though I still have so much to do!), but on the whole, pregnancy gives me drive and motivation to go, go, go. And I love it. I love the creativity that comes of it all.
• I love the smiles from strangers I get in the grocery store. I even love the random comments from people saying I must be having a big baby (!) 
• And for all I wince over them, I am grateful for all the little aches and pains of pregnancy. The reminder that this body is not my own. I am grateful to be an instrument in the creation process.
• I even love the struggle to eat well (sometimes failing miserably), and to eat as much as I need (which isn't always "for two"), and to not worry about weight gain, but being healthy and enjoying food.

I know a lot of women moan and groan about pregnancy, and I've met my share who decide during their first pregnancy that one is enough. Break my heart. But I also know I have been extremely blessed to be mostly healthy, only really sick for the first 16 or 17 weeks, and to have normal amounts of aches and pains. I have nothing to complain about. In fact, someone commented to me this last week, "You sure smile a lot for being pregnant!" It took me totally by surprise and made me glad. I hope I always smile when I'm pregnant.

As this pregnancy is ending, it makes me grateful and glad to think that this is mostly likely (hopefully!) not my last. We have a few to go, I'd say. I hope that each one is as wonder-filled and faith-building as this one has been.

Taken this morning: 35 week, 5 days

¡Éxito! (That's Spanish for "success!")

(Side comment: Tede Baker, do you remember how every single day in Larque we would leave the house and, putting one fist in the air, say, "¡Éxito!"? Happy memories.)

So last Wednesday at our Wizard of Oz dinner I mentioned to a gal in my ward that I have never been successful at making rolls. They always are hard and small and yeasty. NOT light and fluffy and delicious. It has been one of the woes of my baking life. I aspire to being able to take a basket of perfect rolls to a sick neighbor's house. Or "whipping" them up for a Sunday dinner. Or even just once a year on Thanksgiving would give me satisfaction and peace of mind.

But up to this point I have always failed in my attempts. That is, until this past weekend.

I made rolls, my friends. And they were good enough that Jeremy ate four of them. Light and fluffy. And good. Mmmm.  And not just any rolls... I made (are you ready for this?) Lion House Rolls. You know the ones you smell when you are walking through Deseret Book and you want to buy some (along with that honey butter) but you know they have to be worse for you than a pan of brownies. Those rolls.

And I think it was because I didn't roll them out. I followed this tutorial (which is actually easier than it looks). The recipe is posted online at melskitchencafe.com here. And because mine turned out just as pretty as hers did, here's a picture (of hers--I take no credit for the photography or the goodness of the rolls. I give all to Mel).

And since you probably should have something else with your dinner other than rolls (although if you eat four of them I take that back), you should also try this amazing recipe for Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup (in the crock pot). Jeremy told me three times (while scraping his bowl clean) that I should blog about this soup. It was that good. And it might have even been better if I had made the rolls on the same night.

So soup and rolls. Does fall weather get any better than this?? I think not.

My little lion cub

So I decided I loved celebrating Halloween a day early (which is just what Utah does if it falls on a Sunday. Awesome).  We were just going to do a little bit of trick or treating in our neighborhood, but last minute called Jeremy's sister, Jeanine, and went with them in their neighborhood instead. It was so much fun to be in a real neighborhood with all the decked out houses and kids running up and down the street.

The only bummer was how seriously cold it was. I forget that Halloween is cold in some places since growing up in California, we were usually sweating hot in our costumes. Not this year. Jackets were a necessity.

Oh and that I forgot my camera. I know, I know, but we were in a rush getting out the door since we hadn't planned on even going until the last minute! Good thing Jeanine took one before we left. This morning I completely redressed Raymond in his costume (nose and whiskers and all) so I could take pictures of him. Only to discover (of course) that my camera (which I had to spend 15 minutes even finding) was completely out of batteries. And since our house was heated up to some 80 degrees (someone whose name shall remain anonymous likes to turn the heat WAY up each morning. Raymond and I proceed to roast until I turn it back down and open doors to cool the house down to normal temperatures), Raymond didn't want to wear his warm and fleecy lion costume while I scrounged for batteries.

And thus the bad phone pictures that follow. But I tried, right? I really did.

This one was taken by Jeanine. He always gets really shy and won't smile when we first get to a place we haven't been in a while. Thus the droopy-eyed stare at the camera. He actually wore this look most of trick-or-treating too. The whole thing was pretty overwhelming for him, I think. He occasionally would "roar" for someone or say "bye-bye," but most of the time he looked pretty bewildered. Despite it all, I think he was pretty cute!

And these are my sad attempts to get more pictures this morning. You can kind of see his little tail poking out the back. Oh and the dead camera in his hands. Yep, I'm going to work on stocking up on batteries (considering I have three clocks in need of them as well, you'd think I'd make it a priority).

Hope your Halloween was fun too!
And hooray for November to be here!