Mama Bru

Moving!

2011-09-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

I will be dropping this blog and moving to http://thebruhouse.blogspot.com/!

Get Crunchy!

2011-02-14T20:21:00.001-08:00

So I may sound a little weird, but I'm seriously considering attempting elimination communication with Teagan. It can't hurt to try, right? The worst thing that will happen is I will decide it's not for me and return to diapering. It would be a lot easier than changing diapers, and from what I have read it's not only an easy rhythm to fall into, it works with everything else I plan on doing (attachment parenting, breastfeeding, and cloth diapers). Because she will spend most of her time in the (ADORABLE!!) sling my friend Felina gave me, and will be allowed to breastfeed on demand, I should be able to pick up on her cues easier. I am hoping maybe it will make potty training later on easier than the time I am having with Aurora right now. I will more than likely be ordering Aurora a new potty watch (number THREE now I believe...><) tomorrow, and I may also go ahead and purchase the suggested potty for Teagan (so Aurora can have her own potty separate from Teagan's) and maybe a book or two from Amazon.

In other news, Punk Monkeys is going pretty well. Slow but steady, which works for me as I am sure to have my hands full any day now (are you listening Teagan?! Because you are already going on 3 days late!!!). My biggest fear right now is medical intervention. My OB has already brought up induction, which put me into tears. I want Teagan to come when she is ready, and I want it to be as natural as I can manage. I have no plans on accepting an epidural this time. Intraveneous drugs, yes, I am okay with. In a perfect world I hope to make it through with nothing, but from what I have heard about induced labors, the pitocin will make that near impossible.

But for now I am passing the time crocheting a blanket for Teagan, hoping it comes out right. This will be my first attempt at charting a pattern (her initials, "TLB" and three hearts below it).

Well, I should be sleeping. I feel like I'm storing up my sleep like a bear stores up food for winter!

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Quick Update!

2011-01-31T09:52:00.000-08:00

It's been a little bit, but that's because I'm knee-deep in getting ready for the Grand Opening of Punk Monkeys tomorrow!!! Lots of goodies to be found, so please check out www.facebook.com/punkmonkeys to see some of the goodies we have!

Oh, the Adventures to be Had...

2011-01-18T12:20:00.000-08:00

So between the looks of my belly, the contractions I had on Monday night (and more off and on lately), and the insane nesting bend I went on this morning (the house hasn't been this clean in MONTHS), I think Teagan may be coming a bit earlier than expected. (And now that I have put that into writing, she'll be weeks late. Sigh.)
After having contractions from about 4am until about 5:30am on Monday morning (they finally subsided and I fell back to sleep) I decided it miiiiiight be a good idea to go ahead and get preregistered at the hospital and go take the tour of L&D. The nurse I met was extremely nice, and it made me feel more at ease when she told me that they are very accepting to letting the mothers go through labor as they wish, and even have the means to set up a squat bar for delivery. Sadly, she will be gone this coming weekend, and after looking at me and hearing about the contractions I'd been having, she said she thinks I may end up back there before she returns to duty the weekend after this one! I suppose only time will tell.
Today I went over to my friend Katelyn's house again, and got to play her new Kinect!!! It was an absolute blast. And seeing the pictures and videos that it recorded afterwords was hilarious!! (There is just something not right about a 9-months-pregnant woman dancing to "Poker Face") I really was blown away by how well it worked. And oh my goodness, was it ever a workout! Katie said she was expecting me to go into labor right there in her living room.
I also finished the scarf/hat sets for my niece and nephew last night =) I'm pretty proud of them.

My sister in law, Mariah, and I have decided to open up our own shop on Facebook called "Punk Monkeys". We've been talking about it for months, even made a page for it, but never actually made a definite decision about it. Well now we have, and we're hoping to open in the next couple of weeks! She makes gorgeous bows, tutus, and designs onesies. I'll be making crocheted hats, scarves, fingerless gloves, and a few other things (bags, etc). It should be fun =)
Well, Teagan has decided my bladder is a punching bag, so ta-ta for now!

Big Sister Training, the Bowling Alley, and the Beached Whale

2011-01-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

So Friday I took a walk, intending to pass out invitations for my baby shower. I made it as far as Katelyn's house and ended up staying there the rest of the night...whoops! (I have since given up and sent out a massive amount of text messages...I'm just hoping I didn't miss anyone!) While we were there, Aurora got some big sister training with Katie's 3 month old son, Ayden =)

(I think she did pretty well!)

Then Saturday, after finally getting my stubborn car to work again, I dragged HD out of his man cave to go bowling with Katie, her family, and her friend Samantha's family. Aurora got to bowl for the first time! She loved it.I, on the other hand, am still paying the price in an extremely sore pelvis after bowling not only for myself, but for my husband as well as he was playing the part of child wrangler. Not the smartest choice I've ever made, I've got to say.

Today while I was uploading some pictures to Shuttercal, I noticed the difference from last Sunday's belly pic to this Sunday's.

I'm not 100% positive, but it looks to me like Teagan may have dropped! I won't know for sure until my appointment next Monday.

Ahem...

2011-01-15T17:08:00.001-08:00

GO STEELERS!!!!

Too Much Censorship?

2011-01-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

I read this article today, and was appalled. Censorship to keep out things like pornography is one thing, but going as far as to take down pictures of pregnant bellies? That's a little far, Facebook. I feel the same way about them taking down pictures of women breastfeeding--I'm not one to breastfeed unless I'm generously covered, but I respect the women who are bolder than that. Breastfeeding is natural, and we as women have been told it's "gross" and "inappropriate" much too long. I am sure some of the same men who complain when a woman breastfeeds at a restaurant have no problem with going to a strip club or watching women parade down Duval street topless. It's a matter of context; they are comfortable with breasts being sexual, but when it comes down to what they are meant for, people feel uncomfortable and jarred by it.

I'll get off my soapbox now...

Pictures and Slight Panic

2011-01-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

So I am going to attempt to use Shuttercal to document this year in pictures. I'd never heard of it before, but it sounds like a lot of fun! Since I (obviously) haven't been taking pictures for this yet, I just went through and filled it in with pictures from my phone for now. I still managed to have one day with no pictures though =(

Today's a fairly jarring day...I am exactly one month from my due date.
31 days.
4 weeks.

GAH!

I still have a few things I need to get done, including getting out & washing the newborn clothes, making room in our room for the bassinet, getting the swing out of storage and cleaning it up...so basically what I'm saying here is I should really be doing something other than sitting in front of the computer.

Sunhat!

2011-01-11T18:18:00.003-08:00

If you couldn't tell, I'm kind of addicted to making hats. Harley-D says I should start making them to sell. I wonder if they would?

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Caretaker

2011-01-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

My daughter has become such a caretaker. In the morning, if she wakes up before my husband leaves, he will bring her into our bedroom and put her in bed with me. After cuddling with me for a few minutes, she will slip out of bed, grab my glasses, and hand them to me. If my watch is on the bedside table, she will hand that to me too. The other day she went and picked up a shirt and handed it to me as well. This morning she went as far as to lead me to the bathroom and open the toilet lid for me! She cracks me up, and I love what a caring little girl she is. I really hope she is as caring with her little sister as she is for me.

Big Sister

2011-01-10T17:59:00.001-08:00

Tonight in the shower Aurora poked my belly and said "baby" =) I felt this was worth a post of its own <3

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Little Mouse

2011-01-10T14:05:00.001-08:00

So I will have 1 more 2-week checkup, and then begin the weekly checkups! It seems so close and so far at the same time. When I think about all I need to do, it seems short. When she sends a kick right into a pile of nerves on my back, it cannot. Come. Soon. Enough.

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Hat-tastic

2011-01-10T12:04:00.001-08:00

The newest addition to my newborn hat collection!

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What I've Crocheted (So Far)

2011-01-10T05:40:00.001-08:00

In order of when I made them, here are my creations as of yet. Warning: some are unbearably horrid.
Also, I am using an app on my phone to upload these, so I have no idea how this post will look. I will be blaming any mistakes on technology, you can't stop me.

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New Year's Resolution: Actually use this blog.

2011-01-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

So it's been...forever. I was asked by a few friends to pick up my blog again so they can see the nutty things I crochet (I picked up crocheting a few weeks ago, and now I'm addicted. Completely. I've gone literally one day without picking up my hook since I started. I may need a program.)
So we'll start with the mandatory list of New Year's Resolutions!
1) Actually blog. I'll start with an easy goal of at least once a week.
2) Once Teagan is born (33 days until her due date! GAH!) go for a walk at least 3 times a week.
3) Read my Bible at least once a week, CHURCH DOES NOT COUNT.
4) Be more consistent with Aurora's "class time"
5) Be more consistent with Aurora's potty training

Five's a good number, right? We'll go with that.

A Day of Firsts!

2010-05-20T16:25:00.000-07:00

So today I found a coupon for a free sitting and collage at Sear's (I know, they just use those to suck you in...but I came in fairly prepared!). So I took Aurora for her first professional photos! It went pretty well, and the pictures came out ADORABLE.

After stopping by the base to show the pictures to hubs, we headed to the mandatory hurricane meeting (because living in Key West, well, those things tend to happen a lot). During the meeting Aurora was playing around...and she stood up and walked. Not far, but it was 2-3 steps! I gasped, tears welled up, and I choked out "She's never done that before!!"

I'm SO proud of her! It's only a matter of time now. Seems like I can't put off totally baby-proofing the house much longer!!

Menu Plan...Tuesday?

2010-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Since the commissary is closed on Mondays, I am going to start doing my menu planning/grocery shopping posts on Tuesdays because, well, that's when I go shopping anyway. So! Here is my plan for the week:

Tuesday:

Sloppy Cornbread

Wednesday:

Chicken Fricassi

Thursday:

Leftovers (hubs has 24hr duty)

Friday:

Sweet and sour pork chops

Saturday:

French Onion Burgers

Sunday:

Leftovers (hubs has duty again)

Time for Action!

2010-05-17T19:10:00.000-07:00

We got our leave chit approved so it is time to set the gears in motion for the princess's birthday! Since snail mail is soooooo 1990's (and I don't have everyone's addresses) I posted an invitation on Facebook, called my mother to let her know we would be up, and started worrying over how exactly to theme it.
I'm thinking Princess/Dora. (She had a movie where she was a princess, right? RIGHT??) So I'll order a cake from either Publix or Winn-Dixie, find some decorations online, and commence panicking!

Dare I?

2010-05-14T07:33:00.001-07:00

I'm considering making Aurora's cake.

Yes, you read that right. I'd of course use a cake mix, because I absolutely fail at baking without the boxed stuff. And even then I typically find a way to have a wet middle and a burnt outside. But I figure if I practice enough and can get ahold of something like this or this, I may be able to pull it off. However in the end it may be a better idea to just buy a cake from Winn-Dixie...we'll have to see.

This site has given me good ideas for her party. I think I can finally (somewhat) relax about it--now we just have to wait and see if the hubs gets his leave chit approved!

Your Baby Can Read and Birthday Parties

2010-05-13T05:17:00.000-07:00

So I have been having Aurora watch Your Baby Can Read as of late, and she really seems to enjoy it. She especially loves when the songs come on; she loves to dance to Itsy Bitsy Spider! She also has started waving when "wave" comes on the screen :)

So next month my baby girl turns 1 year old! I am trying to figure out exactly what to do for her birthday. I know to get the traditional smash cake for her, but other than that I don't know really what to do. I figure have food for the guests of course, maybe a little play pool for her and any friends to play in, but are there really any party games you can play with a 1 year old? She loves Dora so that's what I'm going to theme her party as. Other than that, I'm kind of at a loss. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I'm bad about that...

2010-05-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

So I realize it's been almost 6 months since I last posted...so I figure it might be a good time to update this. As of now my little punkin can walk (though still unsteadily) while only holding onto one of my fingers. It's only a matter of time now!

In slacking off on my blog, I've also slacked off on the weekly meal planning. Not good! We got back to eating out much more than we should, therefore driving up the bills. Time to refocus and regroup! Now to hunt up some cheap and healthy meals...I'm hoping to lose about 15lbs by the time Aurora's birthday (June 28th!) rolls around. We'll see how this goes!

Chicken Fricassi

2009-12-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

This is the recipe my good friend Angie shared with me recently. I must say, it is DELICIOUS!!! Here is the recipe as she wrote it (with a couple of notes from me) and pictures I took while making it the other night :)

4 bone-in chicken thighs
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp paprika (or until flour looks pink)
dash white pepper (optional.. i always forget it)
at least 1 tsp salt

Mix up in gallon sized ziplock (or whatever is handy) and shake chicken in it to coat.

1 tbsp light oil
1/2 cup an onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped

(I used my Ninja Master Prep! Though I accidentally pulsed it a little too much and basically pureed my onion and celery x.x)

Heat pan to medium-low heat. Add oil to coat pan.

Add onion and celery and cook until semi-tender. Scoop out and set aside.

Add more oil to recoat pan. Lightly crisp chicken in pan; DO NOT COOK THROUGH.

2 small cans (10 3/4 oz each) cream of chicken soup

In a crockpot, add 1 can cream of chicken soup.

Lay chicken on top.

Lay onions and celery on top of that.

In a bowl or measuring cup, add second can of soup and 1 can's worth of water. Mix up and pour in crockpot to cover everything.
Cook on high for 1 hour.
Reduce to low and cook for 6 hours.
Do not remove lid while cooking.

When time is up, use tong to grab chicken bones. If meat does not fall off the bone, recover and cook on high for 1 more hour.

Stir up contents of crock pot and serve over wide egg noodles (or preferred choice of base, i.e. potatoes, rice, ect.)
Enjoy! =D

Happy December!

2009-12-01T05:17:00.000-08:00

I have to say December is probably my favorite month of the year. I love the excitement that seems to fill the air as soon as it turns December first, and the extra bit of kindness people seem to show this month. I love giving gifts to those I love and seeing the looks on their faces as they open them. I honestly could go without receiving any gifts; seeing others happy is honestly enough for me.
All of my gifts this year are going to be handmade, so I hope that the people I am making them for will be a bit forgiving of how they look! Also I am very excited because my mother actually gave me my gift early--a home canning kit! I can't wait to start using it. Just another way to be frugal!
Today I'm going to attack a little bit of freezer cooking in attempt to keep us from relying on Pizza Hut for days I forget to thaw the chicken or buy an important ingredient in one of our meals (I have a bad habit of being forgetful).
I won't be freezer cooking for the whole month, but I figure this is a good way to start! If you want to join in with Freezer Cooking Daze, head over to Life as a Mom or Money Saving Mom!

Menu Plan Monday ~ Nov. 30, 2009

2009-11-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

Ok I fell down on the job pretty badly last week. Know why? Because my husband made the most AMAZING TURKEY I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE. So I just kept eating leftovers =x
Also, I forgot to thaw the chicken in time so Tuesday's meal failed, which is why you'll be seeing it again on this week's menu. Only I'm going to put the chicken in the fridge right when I finish this entry. I promise.

Monday - Hubby's homemade pizza
Tuesday - Chicken Fricassi
Wednesday - Tuna casserole
Thursday - Sweet & sour pork chops, green beans, and biscuits
Friday - Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Saturday - Burgers :)
Sunday - Meatloaf

For more Menu Plan ideas, head over to Org Junkie :)

Menu Plan Monday November 23, 2009

2009-11-23T08:43:00.000-08:00

The hubby has duty again on Wednesday, so it'll be leftovers for me that day!

Monday:
Corned beef and cabbage

Tuesday:
Chicken Fricassi

Wednesday:
Leftovers

Thursday:
Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls, sweet potato casserole, and pecan pie

Friday:
Turkey w/ pasta and garlic bread

Saturday:
Burgers! (Seeing a trend? I just can't get enough of my hubby's recipe!!)

Sunday:
Chili and homemade rolls

For more Menu Plan Monday ideas, head over to I'm an Organizing Junkie!