Wow, it's been a long time!

I can't believe it's been this long since my last blog post! Here's the latest:

We are settling in quite nicely as a family of 4 now. Grant is a very healthy baby and happy most of the time. He does have a fussy hour or so at night around 10pm but other than that, he is a very content baby. I am adjusting pretty well to not sleeping much these days (although Grant slept for 4 hours straight last night! which was really nice.)

Shea is the best big brother! He adores Grant and loves to hug and kiss him. If Grant is crying, Shea will say "It's ok Grant, I'm here!" It is so cute. I have been trying to find fun things for Shea and I to do while Grant is sleeping during the day, so he doesn't feel like Mommy is always busy with the baby. I'll be posting pictures later of what we've been up to.

Memorial Day 2009

Mommy Training

Shea started Potty Training today. This is how Shea feels about it. I think it should be called Mommy Training instead.

1 Cor. 13:4-7::

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

A Little Update

Last week we were on a vacation at home. Here's what we were up to:

Sitting in a toy container and watching cartoons!

Eating yummy popsicles!

Playing in the sprinkler!

We also had an ultrasound for Baby to see exactly how far along I am. So I am 10 weeks tomorrow! We got some cute pictures of Baby but I am having a hard time scanning them to get them on here. But I will keep working at it. We also got to hear Baby's heartbeat! So cool!

I already have a little poochy belly and finally my nausea has gone away. The prenatal vitamins are helping a ton to give me more energy. I have been "nesting" a little, too. We did some major cleaning this weekend including steam cleaning the carpet. I also got to bake some banana bread yesterday & I'm going to attempt some freezer meals this week too.

Well I think that's about it! I'll let you know how the freezer meals turn out! :)

Yay!!!

I am sure

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

Me & Shea

Happy New Year

Whew! The past month or so has been a whirlwind of fun and work and more fun with a little bit of crazy thrown in there too. I am excited to get back into "normal" life now that 2009 has begun! I have some ideas for New Year's Resolutions but I will have to think about it tomorrow when my mind is clear and I'm not so tired.

Happy New Year everyone!

Tagged

I was tagged by Tammy. The object of the game is to go into your picture files & post the 5th picture in the 5th folder. This is a picture of Shea from last Christmas. He has grown so much in just a year!

Now I get to tag 5 friends: Bekah Walsh, Amanda Davis, Jessica Britt, Lena Diaz and Michelle Jones.

Have fun!

Guitar Time

Jonathan was off today so we were just hanging out at the house. He was playing electric guitar and Shea wanted a turn. Here's a really cute picture of my lil guy jammin!

Pumpkin Patch

Beautiful.

Jonathan sent me a dozen red roses today for my birthday! It was such a surprise & I love them!

CVS - From the Ground Up

Since it has been a long time since I have shopped the CVS deals, I have been looking for a good way to get back into it without spending too much money out of pocket.

I found a great blog that explains how to start out shopping at CVS and she is doing a month long series showing the process step-by-step.

I'm excited to get started at CVS again and thought y'all might want to check out the blog too!

Go to The Thrifty Mama blog (on my bloglist) and search for her CVS - From the Ground Up post.

If anyone wants to go with me, let me know! Any weekday morning or early afternoon works for me. :)

Bike Ridin'

We recently bought Shea a bike seat and helmet. He loves ridin bikes with Da-Da! Anything outside is what Shea loves best!

You Do All Things Well

"You do all things well" by Chris Tomlin:

Mountain maker
Ocean tamer
Glimpses of You
Burn in my eyes
The worship of heaven
Fills up the skies

You made it all
Said, "let there be"
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well
You do all things well

Star creator
Wind breather
The strokes of Your beauty
Brushed through the clouds
Light from the heavens
Touching the ground

Imagination runs wild
And breathes the breath of life
Across the fields
Across the miles

God the Spirit

From "The Valley of Vision"...

I pray not so much for graces as for the Spirit himself, because I feel his absence, and act by my own spirit in everything.
Give me not weak desires but the power of his presence, for this is the surest way to have all his graces, and when I have the seal I have the impression also;
He can heal, help, quicken, humble suddenly and easily; can work grace and life effectually, and being eternal he can give grace eternally.
Save me from great hindrances, from being content with a little measure of the Spirit, from thinking thou wilt not give me more.
When I feel my lack of him, light up life and faith, for when I lose thee I am either in the dark and cannot see thee, or Satan and my natural abilities content me with a little light, so that I seek no further for the Spirit of life.
Teach me then what to do.
Should I merely humble myself and not stir up my heart?
Should I meditate and use all means to bring him near, not being contented by one means, but trust him to give me a blessing by the use of all, depending only upon, and waiting always for, thy light, by use of means?
Is it a duty or an error to pray and look for the fullness of the Spirit in me?
Am I mistaken in feeling I am empty of the Spirit because I do not sense his presence within, when all the time I am most empty and could be more full by faith in Christ?
Was the fullness of the Spirit in the apostles chiefly a power, giving the subsistence outside themselves in Christ, in whom was their life and joy?
Teach me to find and know fullness of the Spirit only in Jesus.

Hangin out

While I was working tonight, Shea & Jonathan were hanging out at home together. Here's some cute pics of Shea trying to be like his Da-Da:

wondering

Psalm 8:3-4

"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

Five Years!

Today is me & Jonathan's 5th anniversary! We had fun yesterday spending the day together. Our original plans were to go to disney but that was cancelled due to tropical storm Fay. Hopefully we'll be able to still go in the coming weeks.

We had lunch together at Longhorn's, I gave Jonathan a new wedding band (actually he got this a month or two ago because I just couldn't wait anymore to give it to him! His old ring was badly scratched so I wanted him to have a new one) and yesterday we bought a Wii! I am so excited! We have been wanting one for a long time.

The time has flown by - 5 years. We talked a lot yesterday about our many many memories we have made together and now with our son Shea too. Jonathan & I have known each other for 15 years so we have a ton of memories!

I am so grateful to God that He made me for Jonathan! He is such a godly man, he works very hard to provide for us, he makes me laugh, he is my best friend, he is such a great dad and loves Shea soooo much!

I pray that we have many many more anniversaries together. Love you babe!

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I love trying out new recipes! Over at Today's Housewife blog, they are doing a series of recipe swaps called "Please pass the..." This week the main ingredient is chicken. I have a chicken recipe that my family just loves! It is a little bit time consuming but it's worth it! I double it because we really really like it.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients
3 tablespoons oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup water chestnut
2/3 cup mushroom
3 tablespoons chopped onions
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4-5 leaves iceberg lettuce

Special Sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon hot mustard
2 teaspoons water
1-2 teaspoon garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Directions
1. Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
2. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, lemon juice and sesame oil.
3. Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.
4. Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and set this aside as well.
5. Eventually add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps.
6. Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.
7. Saute chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or done.
8. Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
9. Keep oil in the pan, keep hot.
10. As chicken cools mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.
11. Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
12. When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are.
13. With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil.
14. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
15. Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and saute the mixture for a couple minutes then serve it in the lettuce"cups".
16. Top with"Special Sauce".