Adventures in Shelbyland...

Teacup Candle Tutorial :)

2013-04-17T14:04:00.001-05:00

So, I love Pinterest. It's a source for great inspiration, and while I know some friends despise it for the feeling of inadequacy it can create, I have found so many great ideas from the site that I 'got nothing but love' for it. :) I use it primarily to search for ideas, rather than looking at what all of my friends are pinning. I have found that helps keep the feelings of inferiority at bay for me.

So here's the inspiration picture. Soo sweet and adorable. I'd seen it about a year ago, but hadn't had the perfect opportunity to make them yet.

Luckily, my sister was having a little baby shower hosted by some of the sweetest ladies we know. These ladies have been a part of our lives, as my mom's best friends, since birth in most cases. They are inspirations in every sense of the word. Caring, giving, and truly beautiful inside and out. And, these precious women would most definitely appreciate dainty and sweet little gifts such as these. Perfect!! :) So, I texted my sister and said, "what about these as hostess gifts?!" and she said "I would be so grateful if you would make those!" Again, perfect! I love doing projects like this and I know that helped take some stress off my sister - I was honored. :)

Now for the fun part. Shopping. :) We are lucky to have several great flea markets and resale shops in our little town. I found some options for as little as 40 cents and others were a splurge at $9 (marked for $12... I may drive a hard bargain). ;)

These were my favorites. I adored the bird teacup.

I followed a tutorial that I found here. I bought little wicks from Hobby Lobby. They were 10 for $2.99. Of course, I used a 40% off coupon, so they were even cheaper. I used bamboo skewers that I had for grilling out (broken in half) and taped them on the ends, with the wick held in the middle. The skewers help hold the wick in place to keep it from moving while you pour the wax.

In another effort to be frugal ~~cheap~~, I actually grated used, white and unscented candles I had in storage that I hadn't used in years. I hate storing stuff like that, so this was the perfect opportunity to put those to use! I grated them into my Pampered Chef glass batter bowl (love that thing!). Once I had about 6 - 6" candles grated, I put the batter bowl in a pot filled halfway with water and brought the water to a boil. I used another skewer to stir the wax as it melted. I decided against adding scent for fear of messing it up... scents are just so fickle!

Pour carefully and slowly!

Sadly, I don't have any 'finished results' pictures. But, trust me... they were precious and a hit! Because I wanted them to be able to see the cups so they could pick their favorite, I wrapped them in cellophane and a pretty ribbon. The final cost ended up averaging $4.50 per gift. Pretty outstanding when you're trying to find gifts for 8!

Let me know if you like the teacups and if you have any ideas of your own to share! I have another little tutorial in store, but would love to hear your thoughts!

Love!
Cris

A letter to my oldest

2013-04-15T14:21:00.001-05:00

Dearest Eli,

You are such a joy! Your daddy and I couldn't be more proud of you and the big boy you are becoming! I haven't taken the time to write you a letter in a few months and for that I am so very sorry! Our days are so full of adventure!

Sweet boy, you are incredibly smart. You've known your alphabet since you were two, but now you are able to say the sounds they make, words they spell, and point them out when you see them. Your creative mind finds letters in the most unexpected ways! The letters L, H & S are among some of your favorites and most easily found around town. You also love finding Es because "That spells my name!" In fact, you've even written a couple of letters while drawing (mostly by accident) but you still identify them correctly when you shout for my attention!

You nearly have your left and right sorted out. Which, embarrassingly enough, I'm pretty sure confused me until I was 10, so you're way ahead of whatever curve I've set for you. ;) You potty trained just before turning 2.5 and I think have set my expectations to an unfair level for Miss Kate. While we did present the concept gradually, we took three days of "let's do this" potty training and you aced that test. We took the nap diapers away a few days later and the nighttime diapers away two weeks later. You had very few accidents during that period, for which I thank you (I might have been on you like a hawk!). You loved your sticker chart (It's in your memory book) and love teasing about babies going poo poo in their diapers since you are such a big boy now. Once we had you sleep in undies at night, we have since taken you for a "sleepy pee pee" right before your dad and I go to bed. It is such a sweet time - you barely wake up and are always so sweet. If we forget to take you, we hear a light flip on around 2 am.

You are coming out of your shell a bit. When we play with Archer & Stockton, you don't take 20 minutes to warm up like you used to require. :) You talk non-stop. I'm not joking. Car rides are filled with identifying and discussing every type of machinery we pass or telling me stories about your day. You LOVE playing outside and we spend hours out there when the weather cooperates. You love to dig (anywhere) and pretend to plant things (always farming). Your Papa recently bought a pony for you and your cousins and you adore it. You LOVE riding horses and want to anytime we see one. You are becoming more confident with dogs, but just aren't really around them much. You've also really enjoyed playing with the kittens at the farm in the recent weeks. You love picking them up and playing with them - even if they scratch you! Of course, that makes me shudder b/c I'm extremely allergic to cats and as a result, basically despise them. :) But, I love seeing you have fun, so I just make sure to keep my distance.

You are hilarious! You moved to Mars recently and haven't wanted to come back to Earth yet. Of course, the rest of us live on Earth so I guess you'll come back eventually. ;) This morning, after your daddy left, you said, "I almost forgot to say, 'Smell you later!'" You also love to ask questions - "I have a question. Combine. Tractor. Digger." It is clear you don't quite understand what a question actually is at this point. ;) You love playing all sports - golf, football, basketball, soccer, baseball... literally every kind.

You are incredible with your little sister - Kater-tot. You are always gentle and love playing with her. Sometimes the playing is very one sided as you pile all of the laundry on top of her, all the while laughing hysterically. Luckily for you, she handles it all very well and just plays along. I'm finding that I am actually able to have a cup of coffee in the mornings now bc I can trust you two to play for a few minutes without needing me in some fashion. Even typing that is cathartic.

ahhhhh

Oh! We'll end on a bit of a statistical reference. At 3 years, you were 33 pounds (75%) and 40 inches (95%).

We love you so, so much and love every moment as your parents!

Love!

Kate at 14 months

2013-04-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

Kate is 14 months. And, I haven't blogged an update about her in ages. :( She's such a little almost-toddler these days. :)

Dearest Kate-eroni

You have so many nicknames and I have no idea how most of them came about. :) Kate-eroni, Kate-oppatomus, Kate the dinosaur (ok, that's because you LOVE to knock over any tower Eli creates or really just get into anything someone is working on - laundry, dishes, blocks, etc), and Kater-tot are the main ones. Our little twin friends and their darling mom, whom you adore, call you "Kitty Kate." I'll try to add the others as I remember them. We all call you "sister" most often. Sometimes Eli and I throw your name in front of anything we can think of - Kate-a-pizza, Kate-a-crayon, Kate-a-combine, etc. I think you like that we're talking about you. :)

Teeth 7 & 8 finally made their official appearance and you have been a bit crabby as a result. In the past, you would smile at anyone and everyone. Now, you are more likely to give a stone-cold stare as you scope out this stranger. And, you've never really experienced separation anxiety... until now. It has only happened the past two Sundays as I drop you off with your as-sweet-as-possible teacher, Miss Stacy. I have no idea what is causing that and it is baffling to me! But, hopefully it's just a little residual crankiness that will pass (or only appear occasionally) once all of these pesky teeth make their official debut.

Your "Are you Serious, Mom?" face

Peek A Boo!

Giving her baby kisses

Helping yourself to some snacks!

You are still an excellent sleeper. You are currently taking two naps - 8:30/9 - 10:30 (I have to wake you up so as not to ruin all hope for a 2nd nap) and one after lunch around 12:30 - 3 or so. Mr Eli sleeps from 12:30 - 4:30 or so, so you and I get some one-on-one play time before he wakes up. You like to be in bed by 7:45 and sleep until 7:15/7:30. Eli's been waking up earlier lately and I think that causes you to stir a bit earlier than desired. You sleep with a paci and your little satin blankie. Your daddy wants to take those away right now, so maybe that will be my mission after the bottles......

First touch of snow!

You are LOVING your bottles, which you receive first thing in the morning and last thing before you go to bed. I weaned the other two quickly and easily, but attempting to wean you from these two has NOT been successful. You know what you want and won't take substitutes. :) Can't say I blame you. I still cherish the quiet time holding you as you drink.

You love to eat and want snacks all the time. Your favorites are dried yogurt snacks, rice puffs, goldfish and fruit. You eat very well, but eat even better if I let you attempt to use a fork with your meal. You are surprisingly accurate and successful! I think you like feeling like a big kid... :) You eat your yogurt best when I just hand you a spoon and let you go to town. Talk about Miss Independent. ;)

Which leads me to this odd but so cool development. You have historically needed mid-bath toilet time. Apparently you get that from my baby days, but whatever. No excuses for pooping in the tub, my dear. ;) Anyway, your daddy and I are on hyper-alert during bath time to try to catch any signs of a catastrophe before it actually materializes. So, you've been using the toilet for several months now. But, just in the past week, if you and I are standing in the bathroom (which one does with a 3 year old who still needs help wiping) you often say "poo poo" to indicate your need to use the facilities. I ask "Do you need to go poo poo?" and you shake your head/body in a full body shake to say "Yes." So, off goes the diaper and you sit up there like a big girl until you sign "all done." I'm not lying. It's incredible. It leads me to wonder.... are you a 3 year old trapped in a 14 month old's body? Kidding, kidding... ;)

You love books and that was appropriately your first word to fully annunciate. It sounds a little Russian, with the "K" sound being a little thick. It's precious. :) We read the ones in your room over and over. You demand them when you wake up and when you go to bed... and any other time you feel the desire. :) You also love pre-nap book time in Eli's bed. You climb up on his bed with us and then proceed to crawl/roll/sit/climb all over us as we read. We all laugh so much together during this sweet time! You also like to show off your standing skills, which we so rarely see! Which leads me to....

You still haven't even attempted a proper step! But, you are making strides in the sense that you let me help you walk by holding you under your arms and letting your feet walk. Two months ago - no way. You would either sit down or pull your legs up so they weren't touching the ground. You have started showing off your ability to stand unassisted, but you're very stingy with how often you show that trick. Now, the reason I can say this all so lightheartedly is because you cruise all around the house. Everywhere. My pants, kitchen cabinets, between the couch and chairs in the living room, the bathtub, the bookshelf in Eli's room, hence you are entirely capable of walking. I am trying to do my part to build your confidence, but I'm afraid it's mostly up to you, my dear! As a somewhat control-freak mommy (which I battle daily to suppress), this is yet one more example of the control that is NOT in my hands. God is teaching me that all the time and I'm pretty sure you're just one more vehicle for Him to use to get through to me. :) Not everything is textbook. Duh. I'll get it eventually. ;)

You jibber jabber all day long and have a list of "words" a mile long. You love to point ("this") and do the full body "yes" nod. Your comprehension is astounding - I am able to ask you pertinent questions and receive an appropriate head nod or shake. You love making the animal sounds, especially chicken, cow, horse, and pig. You SCREAM "Dada" when your daddy comes home everyday and you speed crawl straight to him. He loves every minute. :)

You are VERY ticklish and love playing games. You love playing hide and seek. Recently, I've been letting you pick out which shirt we buy, which breakfast you eat, etc. It's hilarious to me how passionately you select your choices! You get so excited. I love every minute. :) Future shopping buddy????? :)

13 month chair picture - "Cheese!!"

We love you so very much, sweet angel! Thank you for making our world a brighter place!

Love!!
mom

How do I keep losing her shoes?

2013-01-15T12:00:00.000-06:00

Missing:

The right bootie seen in this picture.

Somehow we managed to misplace one of Kate's shoes over the Christmas holiday. They were her go-to shoe. She even napped in them, seen here:

Apparently she had a vendetta against the right one.

Now I'm stuck with a dilemma - do I buy another pair (~$30) for the next two months of cold weather? What if the right one magically appears?

Such a serious and horrible issue.

I kid, I kid.

But seriously, have you seen the other boot??????

Baby issues.

Love!

Cris

Planning, In Style

2013-01-14T22:54:00.002-06:00

I just received my first May Books planner in the mail and I'm hooked.

Have you seen these yet? You'll want to take a minute and design one for yourself right now. :) You can pick your cover, your monogramming, the type of planner, etc. You can even design personalized notecards.

It's the little things in life, right?

The cover is soft and made of canvas, which should break in perfectly over the course of the year. The seams are sewn, so you don't have annoying staples to deal with. It's 5x8, so just the right size for most mom-sized (and smaller) handbags. And, yes, I still love an old-fashioned hard copy of my calendar. It ranks up there with making to-do lists, simply so I can cross tasks off. :)

I was able to use this coupon code MONOLOVE, which took $5 off. Please, please - ALWAYS google coupon codes before you checkout online. I find one 75% of the time!

This is totally just me being a dork - not a paid advertisement. In case you thought I might be big-time. Don't. ;)

Hope you had a great Monday!

Love!

Cristin

Lil Miss at 10 months (why didn't I publish this in November when I wrote it?!)

2013-01-13T22:13:00.002-06:00

Dearest Kate,

You are still such a dream-boat baby! While you have started to show your personality (attitude) a bit more as of late, you are still such a sweetheart! The other day, your teacher at PDO said she wanted 30 of you in her class! And, your Sunday school teachers always sing your praises. Of course, I agree with them! You are just such a happy, sweet and easy baby. Who doesn't love that combination?! :)

You have been busy this month. You started pulling up in your crib this month and were so befuddled/overjoyed by your achievement. As any good 21st century mom would do, I promptly took a video with my iphone and uploaded it to my channel on YouTube. :)

You recognize and generally obey basic commands like "Take that out of your mouth" and "No, ma'am" and "Can I have that please?" You sign "all done," but that's it. :) I haven't been as diligent with working on them with you as I was with Eli.

At 10 months:

-You have 4 teeth. Your top two arrived on Thanksgiving Day and have taken their time coming in!
- As a result, you had loose stools and fought diaper rashes for nearly a month! :( It was one of the few times you have cried out in pain - it even kept you up at night.
- At 9 months, you weighed 18 lb, 12 oz (70%) and were 27 inches long (40%).
- We officially weaned you to bottle/formula during this month. Your dad and I are taking a trip to Mexico for a wedding after your first birthday and you were NOT taking bottles! It was time to take some drastic measures so that I could rest easy knowing that you are eating while we're separated! Thank you for such a fabulous experience nursing you, sweet thing!
- You take 4 bottles a day, mostly 6 oz at a time. Most often, you leave an ounce or two in the bottle.
- You take 2 naps per day - one around 9, for 1.5 - 2 hours, and the other around 1, for about 2-2.5 hours.
- You sleep with your pink blankie and your paci! You have started playing around and tossing your pacis out of your crib before you fall asleep. Just know, I won't play along with this game much longer. ;)
- You love dancing (bopping) anytime you hear music.
- You LIGHT UP when you see Eli in the morning, Daddy when he gets home from work, or me after naptime and at PDO pick up. :)
- You wear mostly 12 month clothes and PJs. 18 month tops seem to cover your tummy a bit better. :)
- You wear 6-12 month Robeez/Crib shoes
- You enjoy your time at PDO, but do not nap while you are there. You also don't take your bottle well! But, you don't seem to act like that bothers you! I am going to take you to PDO only one day a week in the spring.
- You are super ticklish and I LOVE tickling you! :)
- You have poo poo'd and pee pee'd in the toilet 4 times over the past week! I have to stay very alert during your bath time - you have the same tendency Eli had to relieve yourself in the tub! Crisis averted, so far.... (I don't think your brother (bath-partner) would appreciate that very much!)
- You say "mamamamama" and "dadadadada," although dada seems to be more frequent and with more intention. You also say "bububububa" (I think it applies to Eli, bye bye and bottle) and "nanananana" which I interpret as "night night" and "no," depending on the situation.

At the OSU Homecoming game

closeup chair love

Playing with Grandma Shelby

That Grin! Playing with brother brings such sweet smiles!

Dancing with pops at Aunt Care's house

Waiting for 9 mo checkup, pre-appt checkup by Dr Eli

Dr Dansby at 9 mo check up

Thanksgiving, hence the turkey on your head. I'm sorry - it was adorable.

Family outing to the zoo after produce season.

You are still a detail-oriented little girl. You love touching my eye lashes while I feed you. You pat my arm as I carry you around the house, and hold on tight as we walk around. You love to be on my hip and act as if all is right with the world while you're there. You like to play copy-cat games like putting blocks into their box, or empty nebulizer vials into a cup. :) We've had to use the nebulizer a few times with you - I'm hoping you don't inherit even a trace of my seasonal allergies or asthma, although I must remain realistic on that front. Odds aren't in our favor, sadly. :(

Sweet baby, you are the light of our lives. You are Eli's best friend, daddy's sweetheart, and my dream-come-true.

Love!
Mommy

8 months ago

2012-12-14T15:27:00.000-06:00

8 months ago, I was holding my sweet baby Kate and lamenting the fact that my maternity leave was nearing its end. I found that I was having to remind myself daily to enjoy the time I had left, rather than let it get me down. I wasn't working my dream job, but I was able to do it from home. This arrangement allowed for me to keep my babies at home with me, which is all I wanted in the first place.

Sounds like an ideal set up. But it was too much.

There were days when it was just Eli and me, where I would think, "Ok, I can handle this..." and then the other 75% of the time I was on the verge of a breakdown. Shutting a crying Eli in his room so I could dial in for a meeting - which I was incapable of actually focusing on - was torture. Working until 4am, only to wake up at 7, three hours later, to start the day... that happened regularly.

Let's just say it wasn't pretty most of the time. Nor was my hair, but that's not super surprising. ;)

My job was too demanding. While I was generally allowed to "catch up" during the evenings, there was the large chunk of work that had to be performed during the day. And, specifically, during those precious "awake" hours.

After Kate was born, I was blessed to be able to take 3 months off work. After that time was up, I jumped back into a full load. Systems had changed, processes had changed, leadership had changed... enough had changed that it required a lot more effort to be as productive in the same amount of time a process had required pre-Kate. Two babies at home and more time required spent working to accomplish simple tasks, yep... I was headed toward a mental breakdown.

Fortunately, I have a husband that is willing to test his own limits in an effort to keep the peace (read: silence the nagging). :) Bill and I were both uncertain about our ability to live on one income. A lot of praying occurred during those months (let's be honest, I'd been praying since Eli's birth...) in hopes that God would show a way for me to stay home. After a month back on the job, I submitted my resignation. We hadn't found some magical way for this to work out, but we believed that God would provide. We had been diligent to remain debt free (including our home) which made this scenario a lot more plausible. Bill's income is irregular and never guaranteed. As a result, we live very conservatively. And, God has provided for us. We continue to live within our means - no fancy cars or 'too-big' homes, though I'm not going to act like I don't occasionally dream of such things. :)

Today, as I believe I am coming out of some mild post partum, I sit here basking in blessings. It's raining for the first time in months. Both of my babies are sleeping. My house is clean enough for me to handle. :) I have gifts wrapped and under a tree that sparkles beautifully with lights - especially in the middle where Eli clustered all the (plastic, shiny) ornaments. We are headed to a Christmas party tonight with our small group from church. The Lord has blessed us immensely and I have made it my mission to be the best mommy I can be. Don't misread "best" as meaning "perfect." I have fallen short of that goal over and over again - enough to come to the realization that perfection is absolutely NOT my goal. Real, loving, gracious, compassionate - those are the traits I pray I can exhibit as I raise my little people.

I pray I live every day not as if it's my last. I can't handle that sort of pressure. But, I do pray that I spend my days loving every single person I encounter - and showing them Christ's love.

Romans 8:11
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Love!

Kate - 8 months

2012-09-28T15:23:00.002-05:00

Is it possible that the second child grows up faster than the first?? Kate is already 8 months old and I'm equally saddened and thrilled by that! Thrilled because I LOVE learning about Eli and the boy he is growing up to be, and I cannot wait to get to know Kate in that way! Please allow me to gush for a moment......

Kate is quite possibly the best baby that has ever lived in the history of babies. I had to go super overboard so I don't sicken all of you reading this, but honestly, in my gut, I believe that statement. :) She is such a ball of joy and I find myself 'losing' hour-long windows of time due to holding, tickling, nibbling on, talking with and savoring Kate. She and Eli hold my heart in such a beautiful and loving way. It hurts (in a good way) because it's so deep and beautiful.

Phew.

Alright, we're back. :)

sweetie at 3 months

At JohnO's graduation party! You did NOT like the fog horns!

Sweetie pie at 7 months old

sweet baby with her blankie at 7 months

My dearest Kate,

You are my sunshine. Truly. You are such a gloriously content little baby. In fact, that is the word used to describe you most often -- "content". You give me slobbery, open-mouth kisses and kick your feet with excitement and make lots of squeals when you are excited. You are definitely a people person and love for people to hold you, talk & play with you. When you do get fussy, it is because you are hungry or tired. Which leads me to....

You are a great little sleeper. Your bedtime is a bit more lax than Eli's was at your age, but you handle it superbly. You are usually in bed by 8. You wake up right on time at 7:30, except for the mornings that you try to wake up at 5:30. I think you learn quickly that you don't get much attention at that hour. ;) You still take 2 naps, mostly, at 9 and then again after lunch time. If the naps are short, you are keen for a third nap before dinner. You have a blankie (seen above) that you sleep with and you also like to find your paci in the night. That's kind of fun for me, since your brother never took a pacifier. Let's hope I don't regret saying that in a few months. ;)

In regards to feeding, you are still nursing like a champ. I know I haven't said it here, but nursing Kate has been night and day easier than feeding Eli. We've endured many little challenges over the months -- thrush for 2 months, biting, over supply and distraction, to name a few -- but even despite those issues, feeding Eli was much more stressful and challenging. So, for that I thank you. :) In regards to solids, you started on baby cereal just before turning 6 months old. You did well with it and did enjoy baby oatmeal. But, that's about it. You did not like any other pureed baby food you were offered. Thus, you started eating warmed canned green beans, soft cooked broccoli and peas within 3 weeks of starting on solids. Unbelievable! You love fruits and vegetables - and really anything else you've been offered. Tonight you had roasted white pumpkin (from daddy's farm!) and fish. You also love to drink water from your sippy cup. Check out this video how you like to throw your head back to drink!

You are wearing mostly 6-9 months and 6-12 months clothes. You have your 2 bottom teeth, which showed up at 7 months. I keep thinking others are right around the corner......... You started sitting up around 5.5 months and starting rolling around your room around 7 months. You aren't technically army crawling, but you've been scooting around (initially only backwards!) for at least a month. You sit up like a champ, and spend a lot of your day like that, as Eli loves to play with you and bring you toys. Eli is such a sweet big brother to you and you completely adore him! He gets you to laugh at bathtime and as long as he's around, you are happy to play on the floor for hours (trouble is he never stays in one place that long)!

I could watch that video over and over. :)

We all love you so much, sweet girl, and are thrilled with the sweetness you have added to our family! I LOVE watching you grow up and I know your big brother is LOVING getting to play with you more!

LOVE!
Momma

Miss Scrumptiousness - Birth to 4 months

2012-06-07T13:26:00.002-05:00

I drool daily looking at and loving on my littlest of babies. Seriously, I'm salivating now just thinking about her! :)

Miss Kate is officially 4 months old! She was believed to be a "small" baby, if you remember, whilst still cooking in the womb. And, well, she was a small baby! But, apparently being born agrees with her! ;)

A quick rundown of her recent stats:
Birth
Height: 19 1/4 inches Weight: 6 pounds, 5 ounces

1 week
Height: 19 in Weight: 6 pounds

2 weeks
Height: 19 in (5%) Weight: 7 lbs, 2 oz (20%)

2 months
Height: 21 3/4 inches (25%) Weight: 12 lbs, 7 oz (90%) not kidding

4 months
Height: 24 1/4 inches (45%) Weight: 15 lbs, 3 oz (90%)

Sweet kisses from big bro!

Kate Olivia - a Formal Introduction

2012-04-24T14:02:00.002-05:00

My sweet Kate Olivia Shelby was born on January 26th at 4:08 pm.

We were scheduled to check into the hospital on the 25th at 8 pm. I loved having a full day to gather my things and thoughts about what was about to happen! We dropped Eli off at my parent's house in Tulsa that evening and then went to dinner at PF Changs (it's become our "night before baby" ritual!). :) I ate WAY too much, but knew I wouldn't be eating most of the next day so decided to go for it! ;) Luckily that didn't backfire on me in any way!

We checked into the hospital the night before at 8 pm. They started antibiotics (I was GBS positive) and gave me an Ambien for sleeping. Ambien is intense - I remember my sister coming in around 3 am and not being able to piece together words to talk with her! Not a fan. But, I did appreciate being able to sleep with such a big event looming! Anyway, they started the pitocin around 4 am, I received the epidural around 10 am and then had her around 4 pm! I pushed once, then had to wait for the Dr, then waited for another contraction... pushed... and she was here! It was so much easier than Eli's delivery because, well, the epidural lasted through the entire delivery! :) Ideal, really.

We are loving every second with this little one and already can't imagine life without her!

More in her 3 month post. :)
Love!
Cristin

My how time flies....

2012-04-09T22:28:00.003-05:00

Little Miss Kate is 11 weeks old this Thursday. I'm serious. How in the world is this happening so quickly?!! She's a sweet little baby doll and has been so much easier than Eli -- and we thought Eli was a pretty easy baby (after the first 2 weeks, mind you). :) We'll never know how much of that has to do with me being a second-time mom. Things just aren't anywhere near as daunting as they were the first time.

I had finished a "last letter" to Eli as a single child the night we were in the hospital before Kate's arrival, and the internet crapped-out on me and I lost it! I was so bummed, I haven't blogged since! :) Hopefully I can salvage what was saved before the crash. Eli is growing and changing every single day and it's ~~keeping me busy~~ SO exciting! I'll do a Kate post later. And a 2nd birthday post. And.... (I'm so behind!).

Eli has been the sweetest (seriously) big brother to Kate. He still gets so excited to get up in her face and shout "baby Kate!". I've had to start getting on to him because while she slept through the trauma those first few weeks, loving from brother is starting to wake her up now. He loves rubbing her head and will do it without even looking at her while watching Sesame Street or reading a book. Speaking of Sesame Street -- Eli has fallen victim to Elmo's mysterious allure. He loves Elmo and asks for him every morning after breakfast. If we're staying home that morning, I typically do let him watch -- he loves it! And, I love the singing and information they share! Which leads me to another segue...

Eli loves counting! I often hear him counting toys in his bedroom or counting peas on his plate. He counts to 20, with some of the teens jumbled up in the middle. And, this actually includes "one" which he didn't include for the longest time! :) He also does well with his colors, although the longer you talk about them, the more everything is "green." I guess that's his favorite right now? He also knows basic shapes and surprised me the other day when he called an apple I was drawing a "heart." I didn't even know he knew that shape! And, sadly, before the stem, my apple did look like a heart. :) We draw and color all the time, and also get requests for "tractors," "fire trucks" and "diggers." He is all boy and loves anything with wheels and playing outside for hours. He can identify several letters - B, L, K, R, P, S, O, T... and mumbles through the ABCs with me, saying about half clearly.

2 year chair picture

Flip!

His vocabulary is exploding and I hear at least one new word a day. It is absolutely so fun! The other day, he started saying "What?" when I said his name. Ha! Today he asked if daddy was "cooking" when Bill was in the kitchen.

If I say, "Huh?" (which he says ALL THE TIME), he says, "Hear Me?"
"Mommy, where are you?" -- we love playing hide and go seek!
Kate gets the "hippucs" (hiccups)
Prayer currently: "Dear Jesus, We love you. Mommy, Daddy, Kate & Eli. Grandma, Papa, Uncle Heath, Uncle Steve (Heath & Steve sound the same), Aunt Tia, Maddux, Gunner & the cows and the pigs. Pops, Gigi, Uncle BJ, Aunt Care, Uncle Lee, Uncle Johno & Moose (Carolyn's dog). In Jesus name, Amen!"
Currently, every noise outside is an airplane
Every light in the sky at night is an airplane
Spots the moon anytime it's in the sky - day or night
Likes digging in the dirt and playing with rocks
Likes riding/sitting on anything with wheels
Is fascinated with emergency vehicles
Is fascinated with motorcycles
He loves chasing flies around the house (I need a screen door!) and trying to smash them
He likes to sit on his potty chair (diapered and clothed, typically) to do his #2... baby steps, right? :)

Riding the horse at Sandstone Gardens

There are TONS more, but I'm trying to keep this post reasonable so I actually publish it before falling asleep! :)

He has been getting to bed a little later than he used to (around 8:30) and I'm working on restoring his bed time to its original beauty. As a result, he currently wakes up around 8. He gets to pick from a few options for breakfast - waffles, yogurt (our standard), toast, cereal & oatmeal. We play and read until lunch time and then he's down for a nap, where he generally sleeps 2-2.5 hours.

He's a very observant and contemplative little boy. He takes a little while to warm up to new situations and faces, but once he's comfortable he is quite the talker and a "gamer" as my dad calls him. He loves playing! He's such a sweet and loving little boy, and I love sharing my days with him!

Love you, little E!

Mommy (or Mama, as you like to say with a little smirk). :)

Remember Me?

2012-01-15T22:51:00.000-06:00

So, apparently pregnancy and blogging don't mesh in my world.

Time for a me-update. Since you asked... ;)

I am honestly blessed with quite easy pregnancies. I did feel nauseous for about 15 weeks with this one, but never actually got sick. What a blessing! Even at 37 weeks, I am entirely capable of forgetting I'm pregnant. I'm not saying that happens often, but it does happen. I'm not miserable during the day, but have a horrible time trying to sleep. I've nearly finished my second bottle of Tums for this pregnancy alone. I had my first and only other bottle while I was pregnant with Eli. This time, I doubled my need. :) Yay for extra calcium! Luckily I'm weird and don't hate the taste of the berry ones. Heartburn is a Top 3 cause of lack of sleep, in addition to 30 lbs of extra weight just being uncomfortable and the common pregnancy-insomnia. I make LOTS of lists on my phone at 3 AM.

My part-time work has more or less meant 32-35 hours a week these last few months. Add to that a very demanding toddler who behaves best when I'm able to spend time with him and not make him entertain himself while I'm on the computer, and that makes for a pretty exhausting day. Oh, I also received a new laptop for work, which you'd think would be a great thing, but it's actually resulted in lots of extra work trying to get it all set up with the applications I need and getting my files transferred, etc. I really despise sitting in front of my computer - hence the lack of facebook or blogging presence.

There were a few months where I spent some time researching pregnancy depression because I just felt like I was in a funk. Lots of time spent praying for a more others-focused mentality and for peace in the present God has us living in. Luckily, I serve a gracious and loving God that has made his presence and influence in my life known with answers to tiny prayers (the baby kicking as I pray for her, etc.) and big prayers (finding more joy in my days!, healthy baby, etc).

For a brief baby update:
I started measuring 1 week behind schedule at the end of December. The next appointment, my OB thought she felt the baby's head was "up" rather than "down." As a result, she ordered a growth profile ultrasound in order to measure the baby's size and confirm her positioning. As I had prayed and believed, she was head down (she just has buns of steel!), but she did measure a bit small for her 'age'. At 36.5 weeks, she was measured as weighing 5 lbs, 4 oz. This put her in the 8.5% on the growth chart. 10% is considered a "small" baby, but 5% is considered dangerously small and I would have been induced immediately. The concern is that the baby is not getting what she needs from me and would grow better once delivered. Since my baby is not in the dangerously small category, I am having to travel to Tulsa twice a week for ultrasounds and appointments with my OB to confirm that there are still no warning signs of problems. The prayer is that she is simply a genetically small baby! Eli was 7 lbs, 1 oz at 40 weeks, so I have a feeling I just simply make small babies! But, I would much rather be over cautious on this sweet baby's health than otherwise. And, I get to see her sweet face twice a week now!

My OB says they'll likely induce at 38/39 weeks, even if she continues to "test" perfectly during the biophysical profile ultrasounds. I'm officially 37 weeks! That means this baby will likely be here within the next 2 weeks! holy SMOKES!

This is getting too long, so I'll wrap it up. If you're still reading, I love you! :)

I do tend to struggle with perfectionism, so I have a hard time not feeling like I am somehow at fault for her size (despite the fact that I've put on 30 lbs!) and for the need for this extra monitoring. The effort to get to Tulsa for appointments despite work and Eli does wear me out. I'd love your prayers for continued healthy baby reports. I'm dying to meet Kate Olivia Shelby (Name announcement!).

Hopefully I'll be able to write one last Eli post before he has a sibling! He is such a joy - Bill and I are honestly not sure how we'll love anyone else just as much! Of course, we know we will, but it just seems impossible! Bill commented how Eli already has him wrapped around his finger... he knows he's doomed with a baby girl!! That makes me tear up. :)

Love you all! So, so sorry for my absence. This blog is just as much therapy for me as a fun project, so I'm hopeful I can hang in there!

I'll end with a picture with the hostesses from my sweet shower today! Love these girls!

Please ignore my see-through dress. Hate it when that happens!

Cris

20.5 months old

2011-11-30T10:13:00.001-06:00

Since I can't seem to get my act together at the right time, I'm just going to start posting when I am able - that way I don't wait for the 26th to come around and then end up missing it completely! Yes, I drive myself crazy.

I'm going to write a more personal (like, what's up with me) kind of post soon. Maybe today. We'll see.

Let's start with a picture overload. :)

Last farmer's market of the season. It was a great year! All of our customers love seeing Eli when they get the chance!

Playing on a pile of pumpkins at Carmichael's.

Of course, any that are ball-sized are just asking to be thrown.

Ham.

shocked shark at Halloween

Shark Eli "chomping"! He LOVED trick or treating, mostly b/c he was with the big kids!

Watching "tractors!" videos on YouTube.

Oh, Eli. Your daddy and I are seriously your biggest fans and are amazed by you and how "big" you are every day!

Some days you are the sweetest thing in the whole wild world! There are other days (I've noticed it's basically when I have to work all day long and you're stuck at home with me) where you're a mess! On those days, if I can steal even a few minutes to just sit and play with you, you switch back into sweet, little Eli and it makes me so happy!

Here are some of your latest conquests:
* You can click on pens and open markers - beware! No emergencies yet, but I have some magic erasers on hand just in case!
* Obey simple commands - "go get a puzzle and bring it in here"; "go play on your piano", "go get your shoes and bring them here", etc
* Say phrases like "there you go", "let's go!", "I don't know?", "vamanos", etc.
* Answer simple questions like "Who else wears a belt?" Eli: "Daddy!"
* Say words that are coming in his books and in songs. You say the last word of every page in your tractor book and I LOVE it - "grass," "loads," "gravel", etc.!
* Your imagination makes me so happy! You pretend like so many things are phones - "Hello?" holding a water bottle to your ear. :) You also make flying noises with random things and swing them around in the air. And, my personal favorite - you make an eating noise while holding an apple slice up the dinosaur on your cup, while you line your animals up in front of the pretend hay bale, and as your hold the bottle up to "sister's" mouth. It kills me!
* You still love apples, bananas, and grapes and ask for them daily, but, we've found that strawberries trump them all. You love them!
* You're really a pretty good eater. We have been able to have "family dinner" the past couple of months and it's really been great. Your favorite is still spaghetti -- a couple of weeks ago, your grandma said you ate more than your cousins Maddux and Gunner combined! They must not love it like you do. :)
* You will now point to your diaper and say "toot toot" or "Poop poop" and "diaper" when you go to the bathroom. We've even seen you standing in front of the toilet trying to pull your pants and lifting your shirt in order to copy daddy. :) Bill made me promise I wouldn't put anything on facebook about Eli going poo poo in the toilet, when that happens, but he didn't include the blog in that warning. ;) I don't intend to potty train until after baby girl arrives, but for now we're just flushing poo poo down the toliet (from his diaper - "ewww!") and talking about it more. I have a seat and toilet for you, but you pretty much refuse to sit on them.
* You can officially climb up on everything now, my bed included.
* You've been sleeping in your 'toddler bed' for 1 month now and you're doing so well! We converted your crib together - you loved the screw driver! - and will soon be moving you into a twin bed. Someone else has dibs on your crib these days!
* You've started saying "huh?" after I speak. It's HIGHLY annoying and I am trying to teach myself to not repeat what I said. It's a hard instinct to suppress! I didn't think this was supposed to start until teenage years... ?
* You repeat everything we say these days and your vocabulary grows by several words a day!
-- watermelon, airplane, waffle, marker, baler, helicopter, etc.
* You LOVE combines and tractors - and can tell the difference between the two! I'm pretty sure it took you one day to get it straightened out. I'm ashamed to admit it took me a couple of years! :) I'd say "combine", "tractor" and "hay" are in your top 10 most used words. :)
* You and your daddy love running back and forth across the living room, shouting "let's go!" and "vamanos!" as you run. When you touch one wall, you shout "Touchdown!", then you turn around and run towards the other wall. It's hilarious.
* You can now count to 13, so long as I say 1, 6, and 12.
* You still throw and shoot the basketball with both your left and right hands. You mostly color with your right, but you will color with your left.
* You are still a "studier" and love examining things. So curious!
* We sing "our song" every night before bed -- Jesus Loves Me -- and you finish it off with "sooooo" at the end. :)

This is getting too long. :)

I haven't been able to take many pics lately b/c you immediately come at the camera and want to hold it and push the buttons. You botched your 20 month chair pic with such antics. Hopefully we can have more success with 21 months and get back on track!

We can't wait for Christmas with you this year!
Love,
Mommy

6 years later...

2011-11-19T02:00:00.000-06:00

Guess what? Bill and I have been married 6 years today! I'm pretty sure that makes us pros. ;) What's really blowing my mind is that Bill and I have officially known each other since Fall 2001... 10 years ago! I guess I just forget how old I am, but saying that I've known him for 10 years makes me feel super old! :)

We actually celebrated last weekend - we already had Eli lined up to stay with my parents and were headed to a convention. Now, 10 years ago, I NEVER would have thought I'd end up at one of these conventions. It's akin to the Watermelon convention we planned our vacation around last February. This time, we attended the Farm Bureau state convention. Wahoo! ;)

Who would have ever thought..... (shaking my head) ;)

Actually, I attended the lunch on Saturday, and otherwise found ways to occupy myself (think pedicure, shopping and napping)! It was awesome! We have made several friends by attending these events over the years and were excited to get some adult time. I even stayed out drinking virgin margaritas with extra lime juice (still craving anything with lots of limes or lemons in it!!) and chatting with friends until 2 am!! What??!! I honestly don't remember the last time we did that! The fact that I'd had a nap earlier in the day made a big difference. :)

I still thank God for His impact in my life - the fact that Bill and I were both seeking after Him when we met and trying to live according to His will for our lives helped ensure that we were making the right decision to get married (at the very tender age of 23!)! I'm so grateful that we were provided the opportunity to move overseas shortly after getting married - and that we had an absolute blast spending that year exploring and learning about each other -- and about having roommates of the opposite sex!

We have had an awesome 6 years together, and I look forward to more excitement in the years to come! I love how our worlds were so different but we have found ways to weave them into each other. He is my soul mate, and I'm so grateful for him!

Love!

18 month, nearly 19 months, post

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

And.... we're back.

Hopefully I can stay on track a bit better over the next few months. I'm not sure how long this style of post will exist for us, but we'll see. I just love being able to read back as Eli gets older, and I'm sure I'll refer to them with #2!

The last "month post" I did for Eli was 14 months! EEK! SOOOOO much has happened and changed since then!

Quick Stats:
75% Head -- 19.5 in
95% Height -- 34.25 in
40% Weight -- 24.75 lb

You're still long and lean, but you're starting to really shoot up in height. This has presented quite the challenge in finding long pants. :) You outgrow Gap pants in length after a couple of months, where a 6 month wear-time is intended. I have found that Carter's brand pants (while not as cute) tend to fit you better and longer.

Walking with Pops

You LOVE climbing! You often sit up on the top of the couch.

Love my little cowboy!

Ch Ch Ch Ch -- turning the drink dispenser into a train

Things I love about this stage:

* You walk around randomly counting -- "two, three, four, five,... daddy, seben, daddy, nine, TEN!". So far, you have not once said "one". :)
* You still LOVE reading books. We read about 15 every day. Your current favorites include either "fooball" or "tractors". When we read the OSU book, you start singing on the page that includes the words to the alma mater. It's pretty sweet. You also point your finger when we say "Go Pokes!" If we are reading about tractors, you say, "Daddy, Tractor, Papa, Tractor" while pointing at each one we see.
* You also know where there are tractors along our common routes and will yell "TRACTOR!" when we pass them - even if it's 10 pm outside and you can't see a thing!
* You also love to sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and do the motions for the spider. There's really nothing cuter. :)
* You are really getting into trains and love saying "ch ch ch ch" when you see them.
* You LOVE driving cars, tractors, etc. When your daddy gets home, you often run to the door begging to be taken outside. Once outside, you stand by his door until he puts you inside. You could pretend you are driving for hours! It's pretty funny to start my car and have to immediately turn off the windshield wipers, blinkers and bright lights. :)
* We've introduced a baby doll to call "sister" so that we can practice being gentle, etc and you are SO sweet with the doll, giving her kisses and hugs and shoving the bottle in her mouth. :) I cannot wait for you to get to meet your little sister!
* You insist on using utensils at every meal, and if I'm sitting next to you, you prefer to use a grown up sized fork or spoon. You call them all "spoon" at this point. :) You are mostly self sufficient at meal times - I really only help when you eat yogurt simply b/c I don't like cleaning up the mess. :)
* There's nothing sweeter than you grabbing a book and immediately backing up to sit in my lap. I just love it!
* You had all 16 teeth by the time you were 16 months old. I'm so relieved to have a bit of a break from teething - those molars were real doozies!
* You love stacking your blocks and counting with it. You rarely pass 6 blocks before you knock them all "dowwwwwww" and laugh!
* This week, you said your first Spanish word, "agua". It's pretty cute! Sometimes you say "water" and other times "agua" -- I couldn't be prouder. ;)
* You are heavily dependent on your "night night" these days. Luckily I have 4 of them, so we rotate pretty regularly. I'm considering cutting one into four squares (they're aiden & anais swaddle blankets, so quite large) to see if you can handle a smaller version.
* I bought a big boy bed for you recently. We're going to work on that transition here in the next couple of weeks. The intention is to be transitioned before sister arrives. We'll see about that. ;)
* You love walking around saying "Mama, Daddy, Eli (pronounced "I-li" -- all the kids in his PDO pronounce it that way for some reason)." I'm trying to get you to incorporate "sister", and sometimes you'll add "baby".

Your current schedule is:
7:30 - Wake
Breakfast of yogurt, raisin toast and fruit
Play
11:30 - Lunch
12 - 2:30 - Nap
Play
5:30 dinner
Bath
7:30/8 Bedtime!

You LOVE:
Watermelon
Grapes (Baps)
Apples (you request "apple" all day long - you eat at least one a day!)
Bananas
Green Beans
SPAGHETTI
Peanut Butter (you are my son, afterall)
Pizza (you easily eat 3 pieces!)
Cheese
Toast - another request you make throughout the day
Crackers
Broccoli
Party Burritos at Bueno (we're raising you right with the Bueno influence) ;)
Pistachios
Chips & Dip
Chicken - especially nuggets from Charlie's Chicken or My Place
Blueberry Muffins
Cheese Enchiladas

You are adding new words and phrases every day. Today, you said "I don't know" and held your hands out, copying me. I also asked you to slow down while eating the apple this evening, and you started repeating "slowwwww" in a very dramatic tone. It was pretty funny. :) We called your daddy today and you sang the ABCs with me, and we both held the same letters - "A, B, C, D, E, F, Gggggggggggg; H I J K L M N O Pppppppppp; Q R S T U Vvvvvvvvvvvvv; W X Y and Zzzzzzzzzzzz. And we crack up after each long letter (if this is making any sense.) I'll try to record it and put it up here. Mind you, he's just mumbling noises with each letter until we get to the one we hold. :) Just so you don't get the wrong idea about his genius status. ;)

You definitely have a stubborn side (go figure) and have started screaming when you get upset. It only lasts a second, and you look at me immediately after doing it. I'm torn between getting on to you for doing it, or just ignoring it. Suggestions welcome. :) You also had your 3rd haircut attempt -- only the very first one was successful. Your daddy WILL be taking you next time - or at least accompanying us there. For now, your hair is a little bit "poofy", but better that than buzzed off! I just can't bring myself to do that to your sweet blond hair!

We had a few swimming play dates this summer - I think the size of the pool was a bit overwhelming to you. You started to get the hang of it, but definitely prefer your little pool in the backyard and the bathtub. :)

I mean, come on.

Lucky boy with unlimited watermelon!

First OSU game - wasn't quite sure what to think of it all!

Wearing your hat, like Daddy, and "driving" the truck!

I'm hoping that by posting more often, they won't all have to be novel sized. I let this one keep slipping by each month to where it was almost too much for me to remember and overwhelmed me... you're just growing and learning and changing so much!

Your daddy and I are BEYOND smitten with you, little man, and we love you more than either of us thought we possibly could. While we're officially worn out at the end of each day, there is no one else we'd rather hang out with than you!

Love you!
Mama

Bun in the Oven Update

2011-09-09T15:07:00.000-05:00

Are you as addicted to Pinterest as I am? I was just on there adding some recipes to a few folders and now have baking on my mind, hence the "oven" reference above. Seemed fitting.

As anticipated, I have been miserable at logging details of this pregnancy. I journaled each week when I was pregnant with Eli. So, in an effort to not blow it completely, I figured I'd put a few notes on the ol' blog.

Funny story -
I thought I was all "expert" about this baby thing and was convinced I was feeling the baby at a very early 12 weeks. I mentioned it at my 13 week appointment and my Dr just smiled and said that I must be feeling my small intestine. My uterus (can I say that on here?) was still below my belt, NOT where I was feeling the thumping. Strange. I've never noticed my small intestine before. :) Just another "perk" to pregnancy. ;)

Fun Facts:

Strongest cravings:
Raisin Bread - as toast or for sandwiches
Black Cherries - fruit or jam (helped sustain me through 1st trimester yuckiness)
***Best of both worlds - a Black Cherry Jam & Peanut Butter sandwich on toasted Raisin Bread. Some say that's gross. To them I say, "it could be much, much worse."

Chips & Salsa

Chocolate Milk (this was also a strong craving with Eli)
Albacore Tuna (unfortunately I can only have this once a week due to mercury levels)
Donuts (for approximately 2 weeks, also in the 1st trimester)
Pickles (yes, I know that's a bit cliche but it's the truth)

Apples with Peanut Butter

Fortunately, I eat a lot of greek yogurt, so I am getting protein even if I can't convince myself to eat much meat.

Smell Aversions:
I have a very strong sense of smell typically, but pregnancy only enhances that to dangerous levels. The smell of the straw below the watermelons in the trailer at the farmer's market about did me in two weeks in a row. Had to sit down, out of smelling range. Also, the smell of cooked sweet corn literally sent me running. People - these were both things I was exposed to regularly. Why couldn't I have hated the smell of brussel sprouts? While I typically do love those things (roasted, with bacon, to be specific), at least I can control when I'm exposed to the smell. With watermelon trailers and sweet corn, there was basically no way to avoid it! Phew... glad that's over for now!

With this pregnancy, I felt more exhausted than I remember feeling with Eli. I'm sure the fact that I'm chasing around a not-quite-1.5 year old toddler only contributed. I often fell asleep on his floor while he played around me. Note for next house -- having a twin bed in the nursery sounds like such a brilliant idea.

I also felt nauseous for basically the entire first 15 weeks. I remember feeling nauseous with Eli ONCE, and I kind of got excited about it. This time, it was constant. Early afternoon seemed to be worst, but any time of day was fair game. After Eli went down, I basically crashed, next to a bowl of black cherry pits. Poor Bill ate lots of sweet corn (when that was in season -- read above about the smell aversion) and watermelon dinners. Pretty sure he wouldn't complain about that, though. He's addicted. Good thing we get that stuff for free. ;)

I have not taken ONE picture of my fully clothed belly (or bare, for that matter), but will post it here when I do. I had grand visions of creating something like this... perhaps it's not too late.

Sorry for the wordy and picture-less pic! To redeem myself, here's a pic of the cutest 17 month old I know!!

17 month chair picture

Love!

Sweet Corn love language

2011-08-03T19:17:00.001-05:00

So, it's Wednesday, and I've had a post on Paisley nearly ready for almost 2 months. But, I am having a hard time finishing projects these days. So, that will have to wait. I know, I'm sure you are all bummed. If you're like Bill, you love reading about my favorite patterns. ;)

Well, today I wanted to share some recent highlights in our little world.

First - Eli did THE CUTEST THING ever the other night. We were all sitting on our bed, and I was asking for night-night kisses from Eli before Bill took him to his bed. So, he gave me a kiss. Love that, but it gets better. Then, Bill and I kissed... you know, because we were there and it seemed like the right thing to do. We caught Eli watching us and smiling, but what he did next blew us away! He came over to me and pushed the back of my head towards Bill, asking us to kiss! He would give me a kiss between each Bill kiss, but eventually he had his hands behind both of our heads, moving us together to kiss! It was really the sweetest thing he's done in a lonnng time.

So, as you all well know, it's produce season. This corn season flew by in a blurry of sleepness nights, ears of corn, and post it notes.

Wait, huh? Post Its?

Does that make you all think of Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion? On another note... that reminds me of the fact that my 10 year high school reunion is next month. Sheeeesh. I'm old.

Alright, back on track.

Bill and I resorted to leaving messages on our mirror as our form of communicating during those four weeks. Here are just a few examples:

Ok, fine. I'm a big cheeseball. ;)

He's such a one-upper. ;)

These stayed on our mirror for a few weeks and were a sweet reminder of that hubby of mine that was off loading semi loads of sweet corn.

These led Bill to comment that perhaps our love language really is corn. I couldn't get him to actually read that book, so he doesn't know that ISN'T an option. ;)

Here's another example of how messages were conveyed through post its:

Surprise!!! Or, did my earlier hints give it away? ;)

No, I didn't inform him through post its, but I did leave it there as a reminder for him for a few weeks. And, yes, I was shocked, so TWO tests were required!!

Sweet Shelby Baby Dos is due February 5, 2012! Eli will turn TWO on March 26th, so I pray daily for just some sanity. I don't expect full sanity - I know that's nearly impossible with a newborn - but at least some would be appreciated! We're beyond thrilled for this sweet blessing!

Thanks for hanging in there with me as I basically pretend I'm a blogger. :)

Love!!

Farming Friday

2011-07-29T10:57:00.000-05:00

One of the most popular questions we hear at the Farmer's Market is "How do you freeze the corn?" Truth be told, we generally repeat the method the person before had just finished telling us about. We don't have much personal experience freezing our corn, which is a shame and something we have set out to rectify this year.

Because Bill is super picky about his corn (spoiled by Shelby corn, I suppose) :), we basically don't eat corn outside of corn season. If the flavor or texture are not just right, there's no chance he's eating it. So, in order for this momma to have another veggie side for her family, I really need to figure out how to preserve the "good stuff".

"Putin' Up Corn" (that's the official country way of saying it)

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Shuck the ears and remove the silks. Put 4-5 ears in at a time, being careful to not overcrowd the pot. Leave the ears in for only 2-3 minutes. Remove them and immediately place them in a large bowl filled with ice water. This will stop the cooking and cool the ear before freezing.

Once the ears are cool (3-5 minutes), remove them from the water and pat dry. At this point, we used two different techniques that we'll have to report on as we actually eat the ears this winter.

Technique A:
Use Ziploc Vacuum seal bags. I bought these when they were brand new and they had coupons all over for them. They're actually really great. You use a little plastic hand pump to remove air from the bag. No sucking through a straw or anything to remove air (bleh).

Technique B:
This approach was mentioned by a customer our last corn market. They said they do the same process as above, and then wrap each individual ear in foil, then put them in a freezer bag. Basically, we ran out of Ziploc vacuum bags so decided it was a great opportunity to test out another approach.

For some reason, the smell of the corn was making me sick, so I had to leave the kitchen while Bill finished it up. So, unfortunately, I don't have any "in the process" pictures, only "end result" pics. :)

If you use a different method and approve of the results, please share! I suspect sometime this winter I'll end up sharing if we think it's worth the effort. :)

Hope you're having a great Friday!

Love!

Almost 96

2011-07-19T12:21:00.001-05:00

For the past several months, I have been running at the church after I drop Eli off at the church's daycare twice a week. When I first started, I couldn't get through a mile without stopping. I did this for several weeks before telling Bill about how horrible of a runner I really was.

He told me it was all in my head! The AUDACITY!! ;)

Actually, it was exactly what I needed to hear. Now, I'm working up to 2.5 miles without stopping. :) Some of you reading this might very well be seasoned runners and think 2.5 miles isn't impressive. Clearly, I am not a "runner" and find myself shocked - still - that I can do it! Let me have my moment, Ok? ;)

Well, I've been plagued with some serious fatigue these past few weeks (more on that later). One day I fell asleep stretching in the locker room before running! And, today was another one of those days where I just couldn't bring my body to do it. So, I turned my iPod up louder (I listen to sermons from FBC Tulsa Pastor Deron Spoo when I run -- they're soo good!) and headed for the track to walk instead.

You know how something just touches you and you can't really explain why? Perhaps I'm a tad emotional these days, too (more on that later). But, I feel like the Lord had a sweet little blessing intended for me on that track.

His name is Charlie. He's 95, "almost 96", years old. He came onto the track as I was almost finished with 1.5 miles, so I took the last few laps extra slow and just chatted with this sweet man. He told me about moving to our town when he was in grade school, then moving to Indiana for dental school, where he also stayed and worked as an instructor for several years. Then, he was called back into the armed forces and was sent to Europe during WWII. He told me about a night where the Germans almost found him (he was building landing strips during the day) when he and a fellow soldier were in a tent by the strip one night when they heard the Germans walking close by. They could hear them talking! He said they moved their tent into the trench that night and barely slept for several nights to come.

He said he used to run the track, but in his old age, he just tries to walk it several times a week. Remember, he's 95!! I hope I can get out of bed when I'm that age!

He said his dad died when he was 3, but that he had the sweetest, most caring stepfather. And, he had the most precious mom -- he still thanked God for her every day.

Something about our conversation just really touched me. I think I cried three times after that talk before I got home. He was just such a sweet, gentle spirit... and the fact that he had 95 years of living under his belt was really blowing my mind. I'm 28, and in a way it's like life is really just getting started... so, it's hard for me to fathom another 70 years!!

In a recent sermon that I haven't been able to forget, Deron talked about an imprisoned woman whose prayer was, "Lord, show me who I can love for you today." That has been my prayer for the past couple of months since I heard it. I love how it forces me to take my mind off ME. Anyway, today I think I was supposed to love Charlie. Of course, that was only around 10 am, so the rest of the day is open for more loving. ;)

It also touched me how much he adored his mom, and I was left with this overwhelming desire to be so caring to Eli. He is so precious to me! In college, both Bill and I were involved in so much. I had pretty high expectations of myself upon graduation, particularly in terms of my career. Well, now I find that my only real goal these days is to love Eli and Bill to the best of my ability and to be an example of Christ in their lives. Career, shmareer. ;) 70 years from now, I sure hope I'm not talking about my time with IBM. I want to talk about my wonderful family, and great-grandkids, and all the fantastic adventures I've had along the way!!

As I was leaving, his wife (who was walking much faster than him with a friend of hers -- she looked to be in her young 70s), said, "Honey, you just made his day." All I could do without crying (see? emotional) was turn and say a quick, "No, he's made mine!"

I challenge you to add that quick line to your prayers... and pray you are touched by the love of Christ daily!

Love!

Farming (ahem) Friday

2011-07-17T23:08:00.000-05:00

Shhh.

It's really Sunday, but let's pretend it's Friday.

K? K. Thanks.

We had our last corn market on Saturday. !!! We still sell watermelons and cantaloupes, but they're not quite ready yet. I'm secretly praying for a Saturday off next week, but we'll see about that! :)

Check out our sweet little sweet corn model.

Look at that grin! That's an "I love my daddy!" smile! :)

mid-"Cheese!"... he says it the moment he sees the camera. I just need to work on getting an actual smile from him now. :)

He's such a goof ball!

Knock, knock. Anyone home???

2011-07-13T21:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the absence from the blog lately.... it's ironic to me that I can't even manage to post a Farming Friday post when we're in the throes of produce season. It's definitely not for lack of material. :)

I'll have several posts coming up, and I think I might even go so far as actually writing my Farming Friday posts and scheduling them to publish on Friday. Gasp! Me, an IT Specialist, actually using technology?? So, we'll see about that.

Today I am going to share with you my recent obsession. Chocolate Caramel Cookies.

Oh my.

So, I used to say I didn't like chocolate. That all changed during our time living in Sydney. Their chocolate was sooo good. It was part of the 4 Cs that I blamed for my weight gain while we were there.

Cappuccino (totally unlike anything we've had in OK. we can only find it in the odd coffee shop.)
Chocolate (Lindt with Hazelnuts. yummmmm)
Cheese (how had I lived to 22 without eating Gouda or Edam before??!!)
Cabernet (really, it was just all the beautiful wine) :)

Yes. Seeing that list, it should come as no surprise that this newly married (and physically fit) woman settled in to a lifestyle of enjoying the finer things and ignoring the flabbier things. hahahaha. It was all part of making that time so special, so no regrets here! :)

Ok, so while I still say I don't much like chocolate, I think I need to amend that. I like only milk chocolate, and in small amounts. I prefer for there to be nuts if I'm going to be eating it plain, specifically almonds or hazelnuts. I do like brownies (I am American, after all) and love hot fudge sauce. Chocolate cake? No thanks. Chocolate cookies. No way.

Until today.

This cookie dough is enough to convert me. And, slip in some caramel and I'm hooked. I'm going to just straight up copy and paste the recipe here, and link to the blog where the recipe originated. It's so yummy. I'm not a huge Rolo fan, so I'm considering alternate fillings. Please let me know if you have ideas!

How can you resist that beautiful picture?

Chocolate Caramel Cookies
recipe makes about 3 dozen
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cups cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 (3.2 ounce) box instant chocolate pudding mix
1 package Rolo’s Chocolate Candies

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Slowly add the eggs and vanilla. Slowly add the pudding mix and mix until smooth. Gradually add the dry ingredients until well incorporated. Chill the dough for about 30 minutes in the fridge.

Using an ice cream scoop, scoop equal balls of dough and place one rolo in the center of the dough. Cover and roll into a smooth ball. Place cookie dough balls onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Don’t overbake.

That time of year again...

2011-06-27T22:52:00.001-05:00

Alright. My life is currently CRAZY!!!

1. We have added on to our back patio. I'm going to wait to show you pictures -- do a sort of before and after. :) You know what it still needs? Furniture. Lighting. Stain on the pergola. A little counter section against the back wall and a little counter section that will house the grill. I've ordered Adirondack chairs to go around the fire pit that still needs to be purchased. We've also purchased the makings for a dining table, but it has not been made yet. This little project has me slightly uneasy. And, let's not forget about chairs that need to be purchased. Who knew they were all so expensive?! :)

2. I'm finally making some (subtle) changes to the living room. I have one pillow left to find a fabric for, a painting to change a bit... and... that might be it. We'll see. Pics to come.

3. Um... produce season?! Have I mentioned that? Last week kicked off Shelby Sweet Corn harvest 2011! :) That means Bill gets home at 3 am most nights and leaves the next morning around 7:30, after only a few hours of sleep. We both love corn season, but can't wait for it to be over at the same time!

4. We sold at our first market of the season on Saturday. That means leaving for Tulsa at 4:30 am (after Bill arriving at 3:30!), with Eli in tow. We loved seeing so many familiar faces - we have so many loyal customers that come back every year! This is our 5th summer selling at Cherry Street and we really love it, despite the interruption to our normal routine!

Pops and Eli playing in the corn!

5. Eli turned 15 months yesterday and I can barely keep up! This kid is EVERYWHERE and into EVERYTHING! 15 month post is in the works. :)

We're missing events left and right, and sleeping at weird times. But, it's corn season. :) It will last no longer than 1 month. After that, Bill will return to coming home around 9pm, and that makes a HUGE difference to all of us.

In the meantime, more corn (only) dinners for us!

Love!
Cris

Watermelon Chasers

2011-06-16T13:37:00.000-05:00

Have I mentioned before that one of Bill's main hobbies is checking out other produce farms? When we lived in Australia, we took several trips specifically to see other produce farms, making it a "trip" along the way by taking a few days to get there. We typically stayed with friends of friends, making it an adventure on several levels!

Well, this time we did it with a 14-month old.

Bill received a call from a grower in Texas saying that they were harvesting. Two days later, we were headed there to check out their operation. Eli did surprisingly well during the 6 hour drive south. The fact that we stopped for homemade, fresh-peach ice cream on the way didn't hurt.

Is there anything better than homemade ice cream?

Yum!! He kept coming back for more!

We were a little worried about how much they would let us see on the way down there. But, once we arrived, we quickly realized these people were great! We took a little walking tour through their packing shed (the building where harvested watermelons are brought in and "handled" -- in this case, stickered, sorted by size, and packed into bins.) This farm grows 500 acres of watermelons each year and helped develop the "Red Diamond" seedless variety that pretty much rocked the world of watermelon growers a couple of years ago. It is the melon that we raise and sell locally. They're like practically Watermelon Royalty! ;) Did you know, they actually have a Watermelon queen that is crowned each year at the National Watermelon conference? I totally missed my calling (no talent required!). ;) Anyway, back to the point...

One of their several stores.

After a quick tour, the "lead" farmer in charge of it all drove by and asked us to jump in his truck. He even had a carseat in his truck for his grandson.... perfect for Eli! He took us on a very confusing and BUMPY trip through his fields, showing us his irrigation (watering techniques), weed control methods, and even his wild hog fence (all parts of successful watermelon raising!).

See how sandy the soil looks? Pretty amazing they can raise sweet melons on it!

The trip was very informative and we enjoyed getting to meet fellow watermelon growers!

Let's just not talk about the bad wheel bearing that put a sour twist on the trip home. Bill's sweet dad came and rescued us from our roadside state... Eli was NOT happy about being in the car so long!

Let me know if you know of any other farms we should check out! ;)

Love!

Farming Friday

2011-06-03T09:41:00.001-05:00

We spent our Memorial Day on the farm, planting watermelons and driving tractors. Well, really, I was just there to document and transport the baby when necessary.

Bill LOVED having Eli on the farm for a couple of hours. And, Eli loved all the big machines that made noises like his tractor books! I thought he might be scared when he got close to the tractor, but he just sat down and didn't look back!

Where's Eli?

Look at me, Mom! Fire it up, dada!

I'm such a dork... had to break out his John Deere tee for a day at the farm! I have an Old Navy shirt that has a gold tractor on it that I sometimes wear down there, too! The guys don't know how to handle me. ;) Poor Eli doesn't have a choice when it comes to my dorkiness... yet!

"honk, honk!"

Cody is their farm-helper guy. He's super sweet and kinda shy... so I like to ask him embarrassing questions. :)

Throwing rocks into the tire = so exciting!!

Mom, can I puh-leeeeeeeease take the semi for a quick spin around the corn field?

All smiles after a few hours farming with daddy!

Why didn't I think of this?

2011-06-01T11:00:00.002-05:00

I never watch TV. I just don't have time for it, and I'm the type where, if I'm going to watch it, I want to WATCH it. As in, don't interrupt. :) If I can't hear it, then I'd rather just turn it off altogether. I do enjoy a few shows - Glee, The Mentalist, and Brothers & Sisters - but I usually just catch those on Hulu at some point the following week.

Ok, that said, I did watch the Today Show last week when I was off work. And, I'm so glad I did! They were doing a special on personalized gifts and mentioned Kendra Scott jewelry. I loved the designs, and concept, and headed straight to the website.

Check it out here.

What's so neat about this jewelry site? Well, you get to totally create your own jewelry! They have several designs to choose from, and they let you customize which stones you use! Head to the "Color Bar" tab to make your own designs!

This jewelry is perfect for matching, yet unique, bridesmaid jewelry, or even for something extra with a great summer dress. You could do all one color, or really spice it up with your own custom color combination.

What do you think? And, I saw a message where if you sign up for email, you get 20% off your first order!

Love!