A ThankFULL Heart

They've grown on me

2013-07-18T07:30:00.000-06:00

I couldn't have seen this coming 4 years ago. Newly married, 18, I had my whole life in front of me. I loved my independence and spending time with my husband.

Now... I don't know how to function without having my kids around (at least not away from the home. When they both nap at the same time -- that is a happy time).

Last week, i took my first trip without both kids since after the baby was born. Instead of leisurely browsing the racks, I nervously kept thinking of the kids at their grandma's. I didn't even know what to do with myself. I didn't know how to just shop without constantly checking to see if the baby was still smiling in the carseat or if the 3 year old was remaining at my side as I shop.

Last Sunday in church, the baby was with grandma and the girl was with daddy in the sound booth. I could've just listened intently to the preacher. Instead, I found myself fidgeting. What was I supposed to do if I didn't have to rock the baby and keep him from crying, or go out into the nursery to feed him. Instead of shushing the three year old and reminding her to stay in her seat (what? Just me?), I was without distraction.

I guess I don't know how to be alone anymore.

My kids must of grown on me.

blessings

2013-06-29T20:19:00.001-06:00

Hellllloooooo!

I'm here. I'm busy. I'm enjoying life.

Life has finally started feeling more structured again. Baby boy seems to be following a loose schedule and tends to have one nice long nap in the afternoon. He's been sleeping really well at night, usually having a 5-7 hour stretch. He loves to eat and is becoming quite the chubby little boy. It's such a blessing to be able to nourish him. He's a very smiley boy and is always focusing on our faces. He does not enjoy long periods of tummy time but enjoys his bouncy seat, swing, and attention from his big sister.

Big sister is adjusting well. She is still taking 2-3 hour naps most days and she's almost 4! She's an avid book "reader" and extremely smart. She memorizes entire books that we've read to her and then recites them back to me. She loves the outdoors. She dislikes her one chore - cleaning out the utensils from the dishwasher. She does enjoy other chores that aren't so regular: helping with clothes line drying, helping with the cooking, and helping with the baby.

Being a mommy is truly a blessing. And exhausting, draining, wonderful and amazing. But after the death of a family member, I am reminded to not take my blessings for granted. I'm blessed because I have oxygen, freedom, warmth, clothes, food, family, church, and many other things. I have so much!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations."

(Psalms 100:4, 5 NKJV)

adjusting.

2013-05-29T07:24:00.000-06:00

first bouquet of the season

Going from 1 kid to 2 kids has had it's challenges. I probably had very high expections before the baby was born because I've had to remind myself time and time again that a little bit of stress is probably normal.

My daughter has become increasingly clingy. She demands a lot of my attention. With feeding the baby, rocking the baby, and then trying to fit in household chores and cooking -- I've started to neglect her without even knowing it. Sure I made her food, dressed her, and put her to bed but when the baby was finally down all I want to do is melt into my bed. And I've done that far too often.

I've decided to make a change. With routine and schedule finally starting to come together, I'm making more time for my first born. I'm trying to make a concentrated effort at just being with her and playing with her. She misses me and I've missed her. She's been my only

baby for three and half whole years.

I'm reading her stories.

I'm tickling her.

I'm playing games with her.

I'm having tea parties with her.

I don't always want to. But when I do make that effort, we both feel much better after. It drastically cuts down on temper tantrums too. I'm ashamed to say that I've done very little at trying to have made the transition of having a baby brother easier. I just assumed since she was older that it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Well, it's still been a huge adjustment for her. She loves her brother but has missed all the time she had with mommy and daddy. I'm so thankful that my husband has really stepped up and focused more of his attention on her.

Adjusting to our family of 4 has had it's ups and downs, but I'm praising God for all of it. So thankful!

Baby Update–Month 1

2013-04-22T11:01:00.001-06:00

Baby boy is 1 month old! As stressful as it has been, the first month has flown by! He is becoming more and more alert and is getting bigger and bigger! He weighs 10 lbs. 6 oz. and has been gaining an average of 2 oz. a day! That’s about double the “average” weight newborns gain. He’s very high maintenance and very fussy. However, he is a joy nonetheless. They only stay this little for a very short time and I’m determined to enjoy it.

Mastered Skills (most children can do)

Lifts head (yes! he has had a strong neck from the beginning.)
Responds to sound (especially big sister’s loud shrieks)
Stares at faces (yup, loves to stare at mommy, daddy & big sister)

Emerging Skills (half of children can do)

Follows objects (I think so; He follows faces.)
Ooohs and ahhs (a little bit. He does coo some when he’s not crying or screaming )
Can see black-and-white patterns (not sure)

Advanced Skills (a few children can do)

Smiles (he smiled for the first time to his daddy when he was 4 weeks old. 2 days later he smiled at me!)
Laughs (not yet, but definitely something I’m looking forward too!)
Holds head at 45-degree angle (i believe so. if not, he’s getting very close.)

{from babycenter.ca}

Life With Our Newborn

2013-04-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone!

It's been an incredible, exhausting, hormonal last 4 weeks. (Truth? I edited that because it said 2 weeks. That's how long ago i started this post - LOL) The first week was a huge high. I couldn't stop smiling, I had a ton of energy (thanks to an awesome recovery), and the baby slept a lot. These last few weeks have been harder. Baby eats A LOT, almost every 2 hours which exhausts me at night. He also has a huge amount of gas so I'm currently in the process of figuring out what to eliminate from my diet.

That being said, I've been way less stressed with him than with my daughter. It's amazing what a little experience will do. I haven't had any panicky moments like I had with my first. I don't freak out when he starts crying and don't clamor to him the moment he squeals. He's excersised his lungs a lot lately ;).

He really is a joy. I catch myself just gazing at him and loving on him. Baby boy gets a ton of kisses! Big sister is a wonderful helper and asks to hold him at least 5 times a day. She's big enough to understand when mommy can't get to her needs right away because the baby needs to fed, rocked or changed. I'm amazed at her maturity. She seems like such a big girl now. She seriously feels like a teenager when she sits on my lap!

Daddy loves his baby boy. I'm so thankful at how much he's bonded with him already. He's been a tremendous help. He always offers to bring food home, to rock the baby, or play with our daughter. I couldn't ask for a more supportive or loving father and husband. We are loving our new family of 4!

Thank you for being patient with me and this long awaited update. I'm amazed that people can blog consistently AND have a newborn. Whenever I do find myself with a little window of time to blog, I usually choose to nap or catch up on laundry/dishes/food making/cleaning/etc. it's a definite balance that I haven't quite figured out yet.

I hope to have baby boy's 1 month update up yet sometime. He was four weeks yesterday! Seriously where does the time go?! We are loving our baby boy and how he's completed our family :)!

It's A Boy!

2013-03-21T18:17:00.001-06:00

He came 2 weeks early & I couldn't be more thrilled! We praise God for his safe arrival. He arrived yesterday, weighing 7lbs. 11 oz. We are so in love!

My 3 Year Old

2013-03-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

She is feisty.
She is sassy.
She is energetic.
She is bossy.
She is loud.
She is exuberant.
She is emotional.

She is me. All over again.
I never pretend to have it all together. But I do know that I don't talk a whole lot about her here on the blog. Mostly it's been because life was just cruising by as usual and everything stayed the same.

Lately I've noticed things shifting. I don't know if its teething, the "terrible threes", or an impending life change but these last few weeks have been hard. She's been defiant and back-talking and this momma is exhausted. I'm tired because I'm pregnant and I begin to realize how I let some things slide with her. And I'm not always consistent.

I don't have the answers. I'm just being a mommy who's trying to be honest. Yes, even one child can be a handful. Even one child can demand a lot of attention from a parent. I find a lot of days hard and exhausting.

I do know that this phase too shall pass. I know that I often need a time out as much as she does. I get lost in the heat of the moment. Many times I need to just let myself step back and just assess the situation before getting too involved. I'm not perfect. But I will not stay down. Thank God for the many good days sprinkled between the tiring, bad days. I just need to see the good too. And know that I can't do this parenting thing alone. I need Him. Desperately.

Easy, Cheesy Breadsticks

2013-02-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

These are incredibly easy to whip up. I often make an entire recipe and then divide the bread into two, and freeze the second part. That way I have an easy side dish whenever I need it. I like to make this as a lunch for me and my daughter. We love it so much, I have to be careful we don’t eat it all in an entire sitting!

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cup flour
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 tbsp yeast
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Topping:

olive oil
italian seasoning
cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you prefer)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400*F.
In a large bowl, dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Mixture should be frothy.
Add olive oil and salt to the yeast mixture. Add flour a cup at a time until your dough is smooth and the flour is combined.
Let your dough rise in a warm spot for half an hour.
Pat the dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle your italian seasoning on top.
Bake for 10 minutes. Top with cheese and bake for another 5 minutes.
Slice into strips. Enjoy!

Pregnancy Update {the home stretch: general updates}

2013-02-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Days go by so fast!

I'm already at 35 weeks and I have less than 6 weeks left before our baby is born! Days muddle together as they fill with nesting, napping, appointments, quality time with the 3 year old, along with meal planning and general housework. No two days are alike though all days are filled with ligament pains, exhaustion and a big appetite. We got around to doing some minor home renovations and now have our basement almost completed. What a blessing that has been! It's nice to have another (huge!) space for my daughter to play in without all the noise being so close to me.

Along with the renos, we got our baby room completed. And we bought a glider, a coveted item I've wanted since our daughter was little. Thank goodness for free Wal-Mart shipping! We also set up our crib and I set it up with the crib bedding that we bought before our daughter was born (Winnie the Pooh). We also set up the swing and bouncy seat and pulled out gender neutral clothes and the little baby bath tub out of storage. It's been so fun to watch the room come together!

I find that a lot of my stress is directly related to my nesting. I feel a constant need to have my house completely organized and right now it's just not possible. We still need to put in mouldings in the basement, the baby room needs some paint touch ups, and having three people in a house just doesn't leave clean alone for very long. I really need to start relaxing and just letting the less important stuff slide. Plus I simply don't have the energy to be on my hands and knees all day to scrub at dust and organize shelves.

All in all, this pregnancy has been fairly easy. I'll miss being pregnant I'm sure, but I can't wait for our baby to get here and for our new normal to begin. So thankful to be experiencing new life again!

Thankfulness Through Change

2013-02-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

I know change is coming. Slowly, it's seeping into our lives. As I see this little one grow in my belly I become more and more aware just how much our 'normal' will be shattered. It's scary. I'm not always up for change. But this was my prayer. And I can't wait for a newborn. But there's still that underlying notion that soon all will be turned upside-down.

But I wait with excitement and anxiety. And I know in all situations there's always blessings and thankfulness. Here's what I've been grateful for lately:

- my husband who's a hands-on daddy. Who appreciates just how much our daughter is a daddy's girl. He somehow realizes how pregnancy drains and changes me and he goes with the flow. He offers to make supper and he's busily finishing up home renovations.

- a sweet 3 year old who still likes to cuddle with her mommy, even though my lap is getting to be quite big and gets in her way. She loves to feel the baby kick and I love watching her face light up. It's a very special thing.

- a pretty uneventful pregnancy. The last few doctors appointments have been nothing but positive. Blood pressure's good, weight gain is on track, baby has a steady heartbeat, the baby is head down... I'm so thankful for it all. Also: I'm making appointments every 2 weeks now - eeeee! It's getting so close.

- naps. I've been napping almost every day lately. It feels so good to rest during the day. I'm so thankful that my daughter naps. Even when I don't feel tired, I have at least 2 hours of me-time where I can catch up on my favorite shows.

- our house. We are slowly getting closer to being done with the renovations. I will probably be able to start the baby room next week! I can't wait set up the crib, hang newborn baby clothes, set up my diaper genie, and organize a changing table.

- nesting. Without it I just might get nothing done. I have so little energy but the nesting bug keeps my house relatively neat.

- snow.

- pyjamas.

- slippers & comfy pants.

- Instagram. To share and enjoy little things that make me and others happy.

“Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.”
(I Chronicles 29:13 NKJV)

Linked to:

Pregnancy Update {Random Thoughts}

2013-01-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Me in a nutshell lately: hormonal. Wow! I feel like I should be updating here more but the truth is that there's just not a whole lot going on. I can only post so much about me losing my patience or how I'm not getting much sleep at night.

I feel so blessed to be pregnant, so blessed. I love being pregnant *most f the time*. But there are days where I just want to go back to my normal, somewhat balanced self. The tears flow a lot these days. They come when watching a commercial, when I haven't gotten enough sleep, when my daughter disobeys, when my hubby offers to bring supper, etc. Happy and sad things make me cry, quite easily. I try to give myself a lot of grace. Carrying and growing another human being is HARD work. But... I also don't want to use that as a constant excuse.

Being pregnant a second time has made me realize how different it is and also how much I've probably forgotten from 3 and a half years ago. There are new, different pains. Some days I can barely walk. And getting out of bed multiple times a night isn't easy either. My ligaments are really sore. But it's only a short while yet. To be honest, the months have flown by. I am preparing to see the third trimester drag by, though.

The baby moves a lot. At this point is very clearly visible from the outside and it is so interesting to see my belly contort in crazy waves. It’s such a miracle to see. I really love feeling movements, although it gets to be quite uncomfortable sometimes.

Our 3 year old daughter is very excited to be a big sister. She is so sweet and caring to me and gives me tons of grace as well. She loves to snuggle with her mama but finds my big belly to be in her way a lot of the time. She loves to kiss it though. I’m amazed at her level of understanding already.

Prayer Requests: That we would have a calm transition to being a family of 4, patience, and for me to really embrace the last 2 months of pregnancy. Thank you!

Surviving a Hard Day

2013-01-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a hard, tiring, trying day. As much I've loved and appreciated this pregnancy, the third trimester has really taken a lot out of me. Hormonal, exhausted, short-tempered: needless to say, I haven't been the best mother lately.

The toddler has seemed more demanding, more mischievous, more needy lately. I don't know what it was but yesterday just felt hard. She has just come over the flu and is starting to be her old self. She was loud, noisy, chatty, active. But she did things that tired me out. Shampoo messes, sneaking off with my phone, crying over little things -- I was impatient and just tired. So tired. It was 2:00 and yet I was still in my pjs. I had had a donut for breakfast. I felt like quite the failure.

But there were things that had gone right. I had done two loads of laundry. I had made fettuccine for lunch. I had slow cooker chicken on the go. I knew I wanted to make baked rice to go with it for supper. I have an amazing family: a hardworking hubby, a precious three year old, a bundle of joy nestled close to my heart who keeps reminding me of their presence with intense kicks.

I was tired of being sad and wanting to put my daughter down for a nap early. I declared it a rest time. I put some VeggieTales on the iPad and we cuddled on my bed.

And after, she did go down for a nap. And I rested. And ate an ice cream cone. And made the rice. I had a hard day but I made it through. It's not always about all the sunshine-y fun days. Sometimes it's just about the surviving of days that are not so great. It's a season. And I just might miss it one day. But I also know that it is hard and it’s totally fine to admit that.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Pregnancy Update {third trimester}

2013-01-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

How Far Along: 28 weeks, officially in the third trimester!

Cravings: breads of any kind (and that’s easy to satisfy since I got a bread maker for Christmas), chocolate, fruit

Food Aversions: I can pretty much tolerate any foods and any food smells.

Sleep: getting harder. I find it pretty uncomfortable to be only limited to side sleeping. I do occasionally find myself on my back but it does become painful after a while. This baby is also very active when I’m trying to go to sleep, whether it’s for a nap or for bedtime. Combine that with frequent potty breaks… well, I’m just not getting too much uninterrupted sleep.

Fatigue: I find myself quite energetic in the late morning/afternoon and I start getting really tired at around 5. So if I really plan ahead with my meals and get it in the slow cooker in the morning, I can really rest before my husband comes home.

New Developments: ligament pains

Looking Forward To: my next appointment and hearing the heartbeat, washing itty bitty baby clothes, setting up the crib, cradle, swing, etc.

2012: a list of thankfulness

2013-01-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

2012 was a wonderful year for me and my family. Two huge prayers were answered: I became pregnant with baby #2 and my husband got a new job which he loves. These were the topics of many fervent prayers for a couple of years. Its amazes me that God chose to answer them at pretty much the same time. His initial response was “wait” but it sure made the blessings that much sweeter when He finally said “yes!”. Here are many more things I was (am) thankful for this last year.

JANUARY: 1 entire year of blogging and a big girl bed.

FEBRUARY: good AND bad days, my valentine, blanket detox, and my marriage (with a fun series about taking your marriage from fine to fabulous).

MARCH: motherhood (the messy parts too), life with my (then) two year old, forgiveness, and internet recipes.

APRIL: community, exercise, not having it “all together”, and His resurrection.

MAY: not drowning in my mommy guilt, my mom, encouraging blogs, and my daughter being just like her daddy and me.

JUNE: that I’m not popular, my dad, special gifts from my husband, my testimony, parenting revelations, waiting, and dandelions.

JULY: God’s unfailing love, my tender heart, not staying in my comfort zone, His faithfulness, and peace in parenting.

AUGUST: baby news and my trying to conceive journey.

SEPTEMBER: lists of gratefulness and getting to update on my pregnancy.

OCTOBER: second trimester, that my husband pampers me, and answered prayers.

NOVEMBER: young love and marriage, blog love, pretty exciting pregnancy news, and four years of marriage.

DECEMBER: not wallowing in parenting regret and Christmas.

Wow! Blessings abound! What a phenomenal year 2012 was and 2013 will be. I can’t wait for our new baby to be born. I look forward to growing more in the Lord and that finding more ways to serve others.

~What were you thankful for in 2012?

Another Year is Dawning

2013-01-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Another year is dawning:

Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting,

Another year with Thee;

Another year of progress,

Another year of praise,

Another year of proving

Thy presence all the days.

an excerpt from the song

“Another Year Is Dawning”

written by Frances Ridley Havergal

Thank you for reading A ThankFULL Heart. Thank you for your comments and your friendships. I pray 2013 will lead us all closer in our walk with Christ.

“So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” –Psalm 90:12

Have a very, merry Christmas

2012-12-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

I often think of Mary this time of year. She was a very young girl but still she had found favor with God. I can’t imagine how people reacted to her when they found out she was pregnant, before marriage. She must of felt a lot of dirty looks and stares.

She remained faithful to God’s calling. She carried the Lord Jesus throughout all the scrutiny. She then gave birth in a stable with only her husband for support. I am always in awe of both Mary and Joseph when I read the Christmas story.

“ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,^[a] who was with child. ⁶So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest

⁸Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And behold,^[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”^[c]
¹⁵So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷Now when they had seen Him, they made widely^[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”
Luke 2:2-20 NKJV
This year I’ve tried to make a concentrated effort to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. I mean, I always do every Christmas but this year I tried to really make it about Him. My daughter is old enough to be very excited for the season and I’ve had the opportunity to really express how its about Jesus and not about presents. Its even easy for me to get wrapped up in the family get-togethers, the food, the gifts and the busyness than really sit down and ponder the real meaning of Christmas. This year, I’ve really took my time and rested a lot instead of being super busy (being pregnant will do that, I guess).

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!” {2 Corinthians 9:15}

Have a wonderful Christmas!

See ya in the New Year!

Parenting Regret

2012-12-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Someday I might just look back on all the things I didn't do enough of. I didn't:

- play playdoh enough
- have enough patience
- make her eat more vegetables
- turn off the tv enough
- use kind, soft-spoken words enough
- push her on the swings enough
- let her help me make cookies enough

The list could go on and on. In fact I feel regret looking at that list right now. But, the point isn't that I want to be full of regret. I want to think of things I've done well at. I've learned to:

- make more wise decisions about foot and nutrition
- let small things slide and spend time on the floor playing with her
- breathe before speaking. Less yelling and more effort made to think before I say things.
- appreciate a 30 minute break, even if it means my daughter is watching Mickey Mouse

It's about the journey of motherhood. I now know that all the patience in the world isn't learned in a day and it definitely doesn't come naturally. I'm giving myself grace day by day. And I rest in the fact that when I do lose my patience and I raise my voice, I always feel regret and make sure to apologize to my daughter. I ask for forgiveness. I make mistakes.

I just hope when I look back on my parenting journey, I remember how much I showed love and I learned lessons even if I made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Christmas Thoughts

2012-12-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for Christmas. Sometimes I still feel like a kid in my anticipation for my favorite holiday. We've set up and decorated our tree. I've been listening to Christmas music for a month already. The snow has fallen quite a lot along with really cold weather in the -30's. We've made salt dough crafts and I've started on my Christmas shopping. I've been eating oranges and pistachios like crazy.

I can't wait for Christmas time. Recently I bought the FisherPrice Little People's nativity set and tried to explain it all my 3 year old. She doesn't seem to grasp it all yet but I'm at least trying to tell her that Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birth and it's not all about the presents she will get . I'm excited for the family time and the wonderful food and I'm so thankful that God sent His Son to come to earth as a baby so I can have eternal life. Christmas is so special and it reminds us all that we are saved because of that tiny little baby!

I've also been in the nesting mood lately. I've organized my daughter's closet and went through all her baby clothes to separate the girl clothes from the gender neutral ones. I've shopped a little for the wee one too. I'm getting anxious to put up the crib and set up the nursery. We want to replace the floors so it'll have to wait for a while. I have a lot of energy from 9ish to to 4ish with lots of breaks and rests in between. By supper time I'm almost read to go to bed . Thankfully I have a wonderful hubby who doesn't mind if I don't bend over backwards to make a gourmet meal.

This week is mighty busy with church functions, friends and office parties, a doctor’s appointment, and get-togethers. I can’t wait ! Have a great week!

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

{Isaiah 9:6}

Dill Dip Recipe

2012-11-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

You won’t need to buy any more store bought dill dip after you try this recipe. It tastes even more delicious and takes about a minute to make. Enjoy!
Adapted slightly from the recipe at The Make Your Own Zone blog.

1/2 cup mayonnaise (I used Miracle Whip)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon dry minced onions
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon dill
1 teaspoon worcestshire sauce

Mix together all ingredients. Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy with chips or veggies.

Young Love and Marriage

2012-11-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Time and time again I read blog posts and news articles about young love and marriages falling apart. It has started to make me wonder if my marriage is just unique or if there are certain factors that set marriages off on the right foot. I got married at 18. My husband was 20. I got pregnant soon after and became a young mom at barely 19. Sounds like a bit of a set up for disaster, doesn't it?

So why does my marriage work? Is it because of my efforts? Not at all. I contribute it all to Christ. Had I not had the foundations from the Bible set up before I ever stepped foot out of my parents' house, I would probably have a different marriage. Seeing the marriage examples set before my by grandparents, pastors, parents, in laws and others in our community set great groundwork. Combine that with their teachings and premarital counselling, we really did have a great start to our marriage.

Is it always easy? Of course not. I'm a stubborn mule a lot of the time and it takes much hard work and prayer to change my attitude. It's getting better but there's hardly a day where I don't pray desperately for more patience and a better servant's heart. I can't do it on my own. I make so many mistakes. I've learned how to say sorry and I've also learned that it's really hard for me to humble myself and apologize.

Is my husband perfect? No . He is learning right alongside me. Being young and in love made us blind in the beginning but in the last four years we've learned a whole lot about each other. I've learned to truly be thankful for him and his many, MANY wonderful qualities. Instead of drowning myself in pity for the things he doesn't do, I try to remember all the other things he's amazing at. He's such an incredible dad, very loving and he always makes time for his daughter. It doesn't get much better than that.

Young love is hard. Plain and simple. Marriage is hard, regardless of your age. Being young for me didn't make much of difference in the fact that this marriage WILL work. In fact, there's no other option. I'm so thankful that that decision has been quite easy to uphold so far. We truly are each others' best friend. We both knew early on who Jesus was and we rely on Him to make our marriage work. I'm thankful that it isn't only two people making this work. He will get us through. He always does, always will.

[this is my story. I can't speak for everyone but this is how our young love and marriage is thriving.]

Blog Award Love

2012-11-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to give a huge shout out to Tiffany for bestowing me with the Beautiful Blogger Award. It’s such an honor to be told that my writing matters and in fact, is read. I feel quite unworthy actually considering Tiffany is really one of the best writers I’ve read.

Along with the award, I get to share 7 fun facts about myself. So, let’s see:

I’ve never read or watched the Twilight saga. Nor, do I want too. I do not get the phenomenon.
I really do love being pregnant. I can’t believe I had morning sickness for 2+ months, now it seems like it just flew by. I’m also in the “honeymoon phase” of pregnancy so it could be that as well .
I used to read a lot of books before we got TV. I miss that.
I never exercised before this last spring. After finally having enough with the lingering (3 year old!) pregnancy weight, I finally decided to take up biking. I really enjoyed it and felt the effect of my body becoming more healthy. Then, we found a bear on our property. So I stopped (duh). And soon after I found out I was pregnant. Good timing since there’s snow on the ground now.
I love where I live. Sure, we have intense winter months but I am a huge fan of the four distinct seasons we get. We have beautiful springs, hot and lovely summers, awe-inspiring falls, and wonderfully white winters. Now, if only I could get my winter-hating husband to agree LOL.
I’m a people pleaser. Oh, it bugs me to no end. I’m also very protective and defensive. I have opinions, BIG opinions. But I’m also often afraid to share them because of my fear of man .
I love photography. I have a small, pink Canon camera but I really love finding ways to make my pictures seem better than they were right out of the camera. I love using Picasa and Photoscape as my editing tools. I had a really fun time creating our Christmas card this year (though printing them and handing them out is actually the hard, more time consuming part).

Thank you so much, Tiffany, for nominating me. I’m so honored and feel quite unworthy. For anyone who hasn’t read her blog, ummmm – what are you waiting for?! She has an amazing writing style and I love what she blogs about: her family, adoption and her life. You always feel encouraged reading her words, and that’s something I especially look for when finding blogs to follow.

Pregnancy Update {think blue}

2012-11-14T09:06:00.001-07:00

My ultrasound went great. We were finally able to hear the heartbeat which took a huge weight off this mama’s shoulders.

How Far Along: 20 weeks, according to the ultrasound. Although the doctor still isn’t sure he agrees… sigh.

Morning Sickness:Almost none. Only if I’m extremely hungry in the morning, which I have been lately.

Cravings: fresh pineapple, pizza, bread.

Food Aversions: None, really. Though I do find some foods to be less tasty than before I was pregnant.

Sleep: Sleep’s been great. I still have vivid dreams, but I guess that’s become the norm for me. I actually feel most comfortable laying down in bed rather than sitting in a chair or on the couch.

Fatigue: I do feel tired a lot. I rest a lot . If I don’t have a nap, I’m very likely to be yawning before suppertime. I’m almost always in bed by 9:30, the same time as my 3 year old.

New Developments: 1) Blue, blue, blue . 2) Heartburn

Looking Forward To: more visible kicks from the outside, shopping, renovations being complete in our house so I can start nesting.

it's a God thing

2012-11-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

As I get older and wiser (hopefully), I've come to realize how things have come together for me. I am so comfortable and joyful at this place of my life right now and I know it's all by the grace of God.

I didn't imagine at 18 how hard married life would be. It's all about compromise and sacrifice - both of which I as a teenager did not want to do. Now looking back, I'm so thankful to God that He was with me every step of the way. He has given me such an amazing husband, who's sweet, caring, and most of all very patient. We balance each other out. On the days that I'm frustrated at his faults, I can only thank God that they are very few and easy to live with. A definite God thing.

Becoming a mom at 19 wasn't easy either. I couldn't have imagined the stress, mess or lack of sleep would have me so overwhelmed and crazy. Now, three years later, I thank God that I survived and am now thriving. I've come to terms with the fact that I enjoy the toddler stage much more than the baby stage and that it's okay. We all have our strengths. I'm so thankful that I have my daughter in my life. She is such a joy and prompts me everyday to set aside my own selfish desires and live a more godly life.

I think of the years my husband spent at a job that left him dissatisfied. He grew frustrated at the number of times he was rejected from other job offers. Just this past month he began a new job, a job he loves and caters to his strengths and passions. I'm so thankful that he didn't get the opportunity to work anywhere else because I know that this is where he was meant to end up. A God thing.

Even through the difficult, I will praise God for His hand in our life. Through the ups and downs we learn to value what is important and to always be thankful. I can't thank God enough for always being there for me. I can honestly say that in every situation that He was there and that I'm so thankful for that. Praise be to Him!

Linked to Finer Things Friday at
www.amysfinerthings.com

4 Years

2012-11-01T07:51:00.000-06:00

Recently my husband and I celebrated our fourth anniversary. We’ve been married for four; together and inseparable for 7 beautiful years. There have been difficult times but all in all these last four years have been amazing and awesome.

I’m so thankful for this man that God chose for me. When I think of how my parents would pray for my future spouse, I am so grateful that God had my incredible husband in mind. A man who’s reserved sometimes but also outspoken when he wants to be. Someone who is patient with me, who loves me with ALL his heart and tells me daily how beautiful I am.

I am thankful that we balance each other out. When one of us gets hot-headed, the other is bound to be cool and collected (sometimes). We’ve learned how to communicate better, love on each other better and know each other’s needs better over the years.

This man is a true God-sent. He is an awesome father, patient and kind. I am not in the least bit surprised that my daughter is the ultimate Daddy’s Girl.

He spoils me rotten with gifts and affection. He is caring and considerate. He doesn’t always understand my emotions and hormones (that have been extra crazy lately thanks to pregnancy) but he lovingly deals with it anyway. He faithfully works every day to provide for his family. He’s selfless.

He pampers me. He hugs me, often. He makes supper sometimes. He gives me the benefit of the doubt. He grocery shops for me. He prays for me and the pregnancy.

THANK YOU JESUS FOR THIS MAN!

Happy Anniversary Hubby. I appreciate you & am so thankful for you.

Pregnancy Update–Second Trimester!

2012-10-29T08:13:00.000-06:00

Wow, it’s been almost two months since my last update. I thought originally that I’d wait until after my ultrasound but have found that a lot of my symptoms have changed so much that it was worth an update. So excited for the second trimester!

How Far Along: 15 weeks !

Morning Sickness: I have little to no nausea these days! It feels great to finally wake up in the morning and being able to cuddle with my daughter instead of rushing to the bathroom. I only get nausea if I haven’t eaten well in a while.

Cravings: I eat pretty much anything these days . I’ve had the most bizarre craving lately for frozen hotdogs (and I get how gross that sounds, LOL).

Food Aversions: My stomach turns at the sight of raw chicken. I made fajitas recently and it just didn’t taste the same as before I was pregnant. Same goes for tacos – so strange.

Sleep: I sleep pretty well these days. The only things stopping me is the frequent bathroom breaks and the most realistic dreams. I have dreams every night, often more than one. They are so vivid to me that I can often recall them for days to come. I’d love to have one dreamless night and see how much more refreshed I feel.

Fatigue: I have started getting some of my energy back. I have productive afternoons but often around 4 or 5 I will start to feel tired. I’m thankful that I do have some energy though, and that not all days are quite the same.

Looking Forward To: First ultrasound, nursery shopping, getting bigger and hopefully gaining more weight (something I never thought I’d say!).