Small things

So apparently there are some newer memes going around my bloggity friends, and since I've been tagged for a bit and just haven't followed up, I thought now would be a good time. So, here you go...

Fourth folder, fourth picture in my photos....

This is actually newly downloaded, which is why it hasn't been deleted yet. The peanut has been loving taking pictures with my camera lately, so that is one at the library that she took. There is a kids area where they have baskets of educational toys that she and her friends play with after storytime every week. Below is a pic I took of her and her friends, Jenna and Mazie after storytime one day, just thrown in for good measure! :)

The other meme I was tagged for: 7 Random Things...

1. Today is the five year anniversary of the day Michael and I got engaged. It was very spontaneous and romantic as a result. No ring as it was not planned at all. Such a sweet memory though, and my answer? So simple..."OK!!!"

2. I love wearing dresses. Skirts are great, but dresses are my favorite. They just make me feel so feminine. It's lovely.

3. My very close friend, Carrie, had a baby boy yesterday. He had a bit of a struggle breathing, so he was taken away immediatly. But 24 hours later he's doing great and I got to hold him lots today, so sweet!!

4. I am a big advocate of breastfeeding. There are so many things I loved about it, and really do miss it. I wish everyone could have that experience! When I wasn't sure if I'd get pregnant again, one of my biggest sadnesses came from thinking I'd possibly never breastfeed again. Yep, I loved it that much!

5. There are very few subjects I feel very passionate about, most things I just let roll off my back. But the things I do feel strongly about, I feel really strongly about and can get a little red faced over. I'm strange like that. :)

6. I have never enjoyed cartoons. I'm a realist at heart and even when I was little I couldn't get over the fact that the things on cartoons could never happen. Now that I'm an adult and watch Lilla watching them, I don't mind it so much. I like her to have an imagination, and I really think cartoons encourage it, that's pretty cool!

7. I love the flavor of pumpkin. It is so smooth and delicious. It just screams fall to me in so many wonderful treats...mmm, I think I want to go eat some now!

So if you've got this far, and have not been tagged already, consider yourself tagged!

10 Smile Tuesday

So the last week has been a difficult one. The peanut has just been so ill, we have done nothing but stay inside, veg out on my bed watching Disney movies and wipe away the boogies. I kid you not, that's been my week. So, I was thinking, what was I smiling about during this time? And, guess what? I certainly still had smiles, and here they are:

1. It's over! Yeah, she is almost completely back to her old wiley ways. It is nice to not hear her struggling to breathe and having some sort of energy again!

2. A week of cuddlebug! When the peanut doesn't feel good, she sure gets cuddly. We have just layed in bed all week loving and hugging on each other, sooooo peaceful!

3. Peter Pan. This has become the peanut's favorite movie. I kid you not, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day. So, I've become an expert on it. Now, if I ever go on jeopardy and it's a category, I am a shoe in for the win! :)

4. My husband. Yesterday I got a kidney infection so my husband came home from work to sit with the peanut while I went to the hospital. It was so nice to get an extra day with him this week. Yep, even in the face of that pain, I got my hubby so it was all good!

5. Forgotten clothes. I had just been thinking I was probably going to need to buy more maternity clothes for the winter when I went through some boxes and found a bunch of winter things I forgot I had. So, my closet is full and I don't have to spend more money!

6. Wal-mart and Ebay. So last week my husband was browsing the clearance aisle at Wal-Mart when he came across Razor phones for $10! These are normally sold for $100. So, of course, he bought 9 of them and is selling them on ebay at a rate of about $65 a piece. Yup, that's a pretty good profit! So, now we have Christmas money, yeah!!

7. Jack-o-lanterns. On Saturday my husband and the peanut carved pumpkins and they came out so cute. Her first experience, which she was totally traumatized by the gooey of the insides, but, then it became more fun. It was so cute to see yet another first for my little one reaching her hand in and pulling out those seeds!

8. The seeds. I baked them and now we have a yummy and very nutritious snack, yummy!

9. Jumping. The peanut enjoys talking to the baby in my belly, chatting, telling her it's time to come out...that kind of thing. Recently when she does that, the baby starts moving around, I really think she knows the peanut's voice! How sweet is it that their relationship is already starting?!?!

10. Funny. On that line of talking...yesterday she noticed I have stretch marks on the bottom of my belly, she got very concerned and said, "Anna, you need to come out now. Look at what you are doing to mommy's belly!"

And one for the road. For, forever now, the peanut has said, "I missed you," instead of "I love you." Well, this past week has finally been full of "I love you's". It is so exciting and warms this momma's heart!!

What are you smiling about this week?

Is it just me?

Is it just me or does it seem like elections bring out the worst in people? I mean really, people seem to lose their minds when you bring up politics, and anything you don't agree with or what you do believe in that they don't. Seriously, whatever happened to freedom of choice in this country?

For instance, we have a political sign in our yard. Since we have a huge yard and live on a major street in our little town, we agreed to put up one of the big 4 foot by 6 foot signs. It's only for a few weeks and it's not hurting anyone, so why not? Anyway, this morning we woke up to find the sign gone and the posts bent in half.

Because we live on a very busy street in a rural area, that means someone had to pull into our driveway, park their car, run around on private property and destroy the sign. I still have no idea how they bent the posts unless they hit them with their car. I mean really, not only is this vandalism of property and illegal activity on private property, but it's just plain scary when I have a two year old living here.

Really, what is wrong with people? As I stated before, this election has brought out the worst in people. And, personally, I can't wait until it's over!!

Friday Funny

So the last few days have been filled with lots of runny noses, watery eyes, high temperatures and an all together feeling of yuckiness for my poor peanut. So we've been laying in bed watching lots of movies, going through ridiculous amounts of Kleenex and cuddling for hours on end.

I think she is on the mend but there is still a bit of a cough, a low grade fever and a runny nose. I've been giving her a Children's Cold and Allergy medicine, grape flavored liquid, that she seriously likes, and seems to work for everything but the fever.

So a few minutes ago, I hear next to me in this pathetic little stuffed up voice, "Mommy, I need my medicine to get my boogies out." Followed up by, "I don't like boogies."

Me either Lilla, me either!

And earlier she was standing on a stool in the kitchen when I suddenly realized how itty bitty she is. (I can forget that sometimes) So I said to her, "Lilla, you are so tiny!" She looked at me and announced, "I not tiny, I a big sister!"

And, how cute is that?

Thursday 13

13 Favorite Halloween Treats

1. Snickers
2. Twix
3. Smarties
4. Tootsie Roll Pops
5. Sweet Tarts
6. Kit Kats
7. Mary Janes
8. Reese Cups
9. Carmel Apple Lollipops
10. Twizzlers
11. Anything gummy
12. Whoppers
13. Nerds

What are your favorite Halloween treats?

10 Smile Tuesday

Wow, another week has passed. It seems like just yesterday I was writing another ten smile post. You know that old adage, the days are long but the years are short? Well, it just seems to be more and more true lately. Time is just going. When I click on my blog and see the number of days left before my due date I can hardly believe it, 68 today, which is really going to be like 58 or 59 as I am going to have a scheduled c-section. That means only 8 weeks left...crazy!!

So with that, let me tell you what has been filling our days with smiles in the last week...

1. Belly buddies. My very good friend Carrie and I have been enjoying the fact that we can share all our good times and difficulties in pregnancy together. She is 7 weeks ahead of me so it's not too much longer for her, and she's having a boy this time. Such fun!

2. MOPS. Friday was our bi-weekly MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) meeting and we had a really good meeting about identity and how it should be in Christ before all else. We take on so many different hats as women, wives and mothers, that can sometimes get lost in it all. It really is important to women to take the time to remember who they are, but still enjoy this all too short times in our lives.

3. After MOPS a friend needed to take care of some things so I watched her daughter for a couple of hours, to which the peanut completely delighted in. It is really fun to have a friend, as they are showing below!

4. A couple of weeks ago I took some blood tests and found out I had low iron, and worse, I might have gestational diabetes. Since I am not planned and never really think about food, it would be very difficult to stick to such a diet. Last week I went in for the test to find out, and they take blood 4 times let me tell you! Ugh! Anyway, I found out yesterday all tests were normal, good news!!

5. I don't know what's gotten into my husband lately but he's brought me two beautiful bouquets of flowers in the last week and a half. One was a fall bouquet and the other this beautiful purple and pink bouquet. What a sweetie to fill the house with such happy things!

6. On Saturday morning Michael took the peanut to a train show with my brother in law and his kids. They had such fun just enjoying all the choo-choos and playing with the fun things. They came home with Lilla's first train set too! This will go under the tree and I think Michael is going to suprise her with Geo-Trax for the real surprise!

7. Moms Night In. Saturday we had a mom's night in for our MOPS group. Not too many came, but we still had fun just eating, playing games and talking. It's always nice getting to know some new people better so that was a lot of fun!

8. The Nudies. The peanut is potty training this week so I've started the week just having her go without diapers all week. She went on the potty every time by herself yesterday. Gets on, goes, wipes, flushes...all by herself. The problem is still when she has panties or a diaper on she goes in them. Not sure how to resolve this but we are staying in this whole week so she can just spend the week "peeping", as she calls it. LOL

9. Big sister. The peanut has been going around telling everyone, "I a big sister." It's so sweet to see her embracing the idea as the time draws more near. She does it so proudly too and has been taking care of her little baby dolls so much lately, I just can't wait to see how she does with the real thing!

10. Oatmeal butterscotch cookies. I've been reading a lot of people baking lately and it just gave me a bug to do it too. I just whipped up this batch from a recipe on the back of the Hershey butterscotch bag, and according to the peanut, "Those are good!" I would have to agree, oh they are just too yummy...I think I may need another!

What are you smiling about today?

Monday Funnies

At MOPS on Friday, when I went to pick up the peanut, the workers were all commenting to me on what a character the peanut is. This is no surprise to me as I have been told it many times before. She provides the entertainment I tell you. For example:

On Sunday at church, we had her sitting with us during worship, there was a quiet moment when all of a sudden she stands on the pew and announces to anyone who might be listening, "The racoon killed the chicken." Completely unprovoked, we have no idea where it came from. Giggles were heard all around.

Then we were on the road, my husband was driving and paying attention to things off the road. We almost went off roading at this point so I said, "Michael pay attention to the road." Just then I hear from the backseat, "Daddy needs to pay attention to the road."

Finally, my most favorite of the day, we are driving to Michael's parents for the day and decided to grab something to eat on the way since lunch wouldn't be for a few hours. I couldn't decide what I wanted when I hear a little voice behind me say, "We need to eat at Taco Bell for Daddy." Particularly funny since my husband is always saying, "Let's just go to Taco Bell." Yeah, she sure is my little sponge!

What is making you laugh today?

Have you ever?

I saw this while I was out scanning blogs today, thought it was kind of a fun way to get to know you a bit. If you do it, let me know and I'll visit you!

What I have done is in bold:

Bought everyone in the bar a drink
Swam with wild dolphin
Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
Been inside a Pyramid
Held a tarantula
Taken a candle lit bath
Said I love you and meant it
Hugged a Tree
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightening storm at sea
Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
Seen the Northern Lights
Gone to a huge sports game
Walked the stairs to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Grown and eaten your own vegetables
Touched an iceberg
Slept under the stars
Changed a baby’s diaper
Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
Watched a meteor shower
Gotten drunk on champagne
Given more than you can afford to charity
Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
Had a food fight
Bet on a winning horse
Asked out a stranger
Had a snowball fight
Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
Held a lamb
Seen a total eclipse
Ridden a rollercoaster
Hit a home run
Danced like a fool, not caring who watched
Adopted an accent for an entire day
Actually felt happy about your life, even for a moment
Had two hard drives for your computer
Visited all 50 states
Taken care of someone who was too drunk
Had amazing Friends
Danced with a Stranger in a foreign country
Watched wild whales
Stolen a sign
Hitchhiked in Europe
Taken a road-trip
Gone rock climbing
Midnight walk on the beach
Gone sky diving
Visited Ireland
Been heartbroken longer than you were in love
In a restaurant sat at a stranger’s table and ate with them
Visited Japan
Milked a cow
Alphabetized your CDs
Pretended to be a superhero
Sung karaoke
Lounged around in bed all day
Posed nude in front of strangers
Gone scuba diving
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Played in the rain
Gone to a drive-in theater
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
Toured ancient sites
Taken a martial arts class
Played a computer game for more than 6 hours straight
Gotten married
Been in a movie
Crashed a party
Gotten divorced
Gone without food for 5 days
Made cookies from scratch
Won first prize in a costume contest
Ridden a gondola in Venice
Gotten a tattoo
Rafted the Snake River
Been on television news program as an “expert”
Got flowers for no reason
Performed on a stage
Been to Las Vegas
Recorded Music
Eaten shark
Had a one-night stand
Gone to Thailand
Bought a house
Been in a combat zone
Buried one/both of your parents
Been on a cruise ship
Spoken more than one language fluently
Performed in Rocky Horror
Raised children
Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
Picked up and moved to another city
Walked on the Golden Gate Bridge
Sang loudly in the car and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
Had plastic surgery
Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have
Wrote articles for a large publication
Lost over 100 lbs
Held someone while they were having a flashback
Piloted an airplane
Petted a stingray
Broken someone’s heart
Helped an animal give birth
Won money on a TV game show
Broken a bone
Gone on an African safari
Had a body part below the neck pierced
Fired a rifle, shotgun or pistol
Eaten mushrooms gathered in the wild
Ridden a horse
Had major surgery
Had a snake as a pet
Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
Slept for more than 30 hours over 48 consecutive hours
Visited more foreign countries than US States
Visited all 7 continents
Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
Eaten Kangaroo meat
Eaten sushi
Had your picture in the paper
Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
Gone back to school
Parasailed
Petted a cockroach
Eaten fried green tomatoes
Read the Illiad
Selected one important author who you missed school to read
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Skipped all of your school reunions
Communicated with someone without sharing a common language
Been elected to public office
Written your own computer language
Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
Had to put someone you love in hospice care
Build your own PC from parts
Sold your own artwork to someone that didn’t know it was yours
Had a booth in a street fair
Dyed your hair
Been a DJ
Shaved your head
Caused a car accident
Saved someone’s life

Hmmmm....it looks like I need to get out more often! :)

10 Smile Tuesday

So, being the slacker of a blogger that I am, I again have no pictures. This pregnancy must be affecting my brain because I'm usually very good about hauling my camera all over town, but lately I've just left it at home. Sitting there, collecting dust, while my baby is turning into a little girl. Never to recapture those moments again. OK, so now that I've given myself a guilt trip, on with the smiles! :)

1. Free. It's my favorite price for sure! This weekend my husband got to go to the Colts game, with super great 18th row seats, for free. I was so happy for him as he just doesn't get to do those things and it was just a fun time for him to be with the guys. We really appreciate his friend, Tom, for inviting him, so sweet!

2. Water. Did I ever tell you guys how much the peanut loves water. Loves to play in it that is, does not love to have it spilled on her. Whole other story. Anyway, we were at a park with a natural spring this weekend and she just had a blast going from side to side playing in and drinking the water. I so wish I had a picture because at one point she actually stuck her tongue in the spiget, hilarious. And no, I didn't let her keep it there, it was just super funny to see her do it! :)

3. The park. On Saturday we visited my parents and then took the kids to their local park. They actually had no idea it had a playground but I insisted it must (I'm such a mom, we will find play areas anywhere, won't we??) and it sure did. It was absolutely huge and the girls loved it! My husband and my sister's husbands chased them around for about an hour and a half just having the greatest time, loved it!

4. Worship. On Sunday we attended church with some friends instead of our normal church and they just had the most amazing music there. Really fabulous, worship is such a blessing!

5. Growing. Suddenly my belly is just getting huge! Seriously, it's hard and round and full of this sweet little one. How could I not see the miracle of life through that?!?!

6. Friends. While my husband was at the football game on Sunday, the peanut and I went to friend's house, and had such a nice time. The peanut got to play with her daughter's and I got to hang out with what is becoming a very good friend. Such sweet times!

7. Testimony. At our Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) steering team meeting on Friday one of the mentors gave her testimony. Is there anything lovelier than hearing how someone came to love our Lord? Just wonderful.

8. Weather. Saturday's weather could not have been more perfect. So, of course we spent lots of time outside soaking it up. Very strange, low 80's in October, but still a beautiful day to be enjoying the last warm days of the year.

9. Low bill. My car has been shorting out fuses for the parking lights super quick and we could not figure out what was the reason. We were thinking this was going to cost some serious money because it is electrical. Thankfully, they were able to find out it was something small, it took them forever so labor was a bit expensive, but compared to what we thought it would be, way manageable!

10. Hook. So recently we've been watching a lot of Peter Pan. Ask me why, I'm not quite sure but the peanut absolutely loves this movie. It's the old Disney cartoon version. So yesterday she found this little bitty wrench we have and was running around the house yelling, "I Hook, I Hook." Oh, aren't kids so creative?

What are you smiling about today?

Whew...

I am tired. I mean really tired. The kind you just feel like you could sit down and just melt into a chair. Pure exhaustion. I've been this way for awhile now. On Wednesday I went in for my 28 week check up. I had to have blood drawn, get a flu shot and my Rhogam shot. (I'm Rh Negative) The nurse called me with the test results today and not only may I have gestational diabetes, I am also borderline anemic. Ah ha, that explains a lot!

So, I need to make a trip to the store for some green leafy vegetables and start eating a whole different diet. Hopefully it will give me more energy, it's just so lagging right now. And, that is hard when you have the world's most active 2 1/2 year old living in your home!

Today she was a crab apple and just fussy, fussy, fussy! I finally said to her, "Lilla, you wear me out!" You know what she said in reply? "Mommy, YOU wear ME out. That not nice." And that my friends, is how I keep laughing!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Signs Fall is Here 1. The changing leaves, suddenly yellows and oranges everywhere! 2. The crunch beneath your feet as you walk, those same leaves all over the place! 3. Apple everything! We've been to two orchards and I'm still loving it! 4. A 20 degree drop in temperature in 2 days! Crazy! 5. Sweaters. They have been hauled out and the tanks put away. 6. Yellow and brown crops. Since we live in the country we see corn and beans everywhere that certainly have that autumn look! 7. Down comforter. It has been put back on the bed as these nights are getting chilly! 8. The heat is on. Yep, we finally caved when it got down to 40 the other night...whew, chilly! 9. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. So all the stores are making way for their Christmas stuff already. Yesterday I was in Kohl's and their was Christmas music playing. A little early if you ask me. 10. Darker colored clothes. Have you noticed the color of clothes changes in the fall. It seems like a lot of Earth tones and just darker shades. Good bye pinks, whites and pastels. Hello greens, creams and oranges. 11. Comfort food. All of a sudden I've been wanting to make chili's and pot pies. Definitely a sign the season is changing. I've even been dreaming about baking cookies lately! 12. Shorter days. Yep, the days are definitely getting shorter. I've been noticing it as I give the peanut earlier baths and feel like bed time should be a lot earlier than it used to be. I will say the peanut does not notice this and disagrees wholeheartedly that it should come sooner! 13. Allergy season. I have asthma so whew, these time of year wreaks havoc on my system, got some issues going on. I still love it though and look forward to fall every year!




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