Flutter---flutter!!!!

Flutter, flutter---tap...tap! That is what I felt yesterday, in my belly. My precious baby!!!!!

I was reclined in the chair at the dentist getting my teeth cleaned...of all places...when I felt my FIRST little wiggle and flutter! I felt it about 5 times over the course of my cleaning. I felt it again 2 times last night laying on the couch. I have been so excited to get to this point, where I could have that reminder and reassurance that my precious baby was in there, moving and getting stronger.

There is almost---NOTHING---better than feeling life inside your womb. What a miraculous and blessed gift from God!

Can't wait until the movements are more like kicks and rolls, rather than just flutters. I was 20 weeks pregnant with Maggie the first time, I felt her move. I am only 17 weeks along with this baby, and am so thankful to already be feeling it move!

Have I mentioned, that I LOVE being pregnant! It agrees with me, entirely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love to all,

Leah

Tickled pink...or...Bouncing in blue???

Tickled pink or bouncing in blue...???

STILL a mystery!!!!

No special announcement to post...turns out, our sweet babe is quite modest! Dr. New tried for over 10 minutes to get the baby to cooperate and show us their parts...but no luck! We will have to wait to look again until our 20 week visit on Feb. 12th!

The great news is, that everything else (heart, stomach, bladder, bones, brain) was beautiful, perfect and healthy! Our baby has long fingers, and big feet and was wiggling all around....so cute. His or her heart rate was 164.

Praise God for a healthy he or she!!!

Love to all,

Leah

PT in progress....Yay!

PT...that is Potty Training...for all of you who are not smack-dab in the middle of toddler hood! We are on the "tail" end...no pun intended...of potty training our sweet Maggie! Yay!

I have to say that it has gone much easier and smoother than I could have ever predicted. It is so true, what I have heard other mommas say. Wait until they are ready, and everything will go so much easier. Our girl is a little over 2.5, and was showing some interest in wearing big girl panties, and noticing when she was wet and dirty.

We decided last week during our arctic cold weather, that since we were already staying home to be safe and warm, we might as well give potty training a try. We purchased and washed several big girl panties, set up our "Potty Central"---(pics below) in our living room, talked it up and gave it a try. We are now on day #7, and Maggie is doing so well. With the exception of a few accidents, some anxiety and a short battle with constipation...I would say my girl is officially "a big girl now..."! We are still putting her in a diaper/pull up for naps and at night time.

Please forgive all of the details/potty talk. I know it is blah,blah,blah for most of you reading. But since this is like our family scrap book...and potty training is monumental...I had to properly document. Ha!

We are so proud of our girl! We are also quite excited about our short break from buying diapers, until our sweet baby #2 arrives in June. Speaking of #2, we will be finding out on Friday if it is a boy or girl. Oh, how I can't wait for the day to get here!

We rewarded our girl and her efforts with a pink princess scooter. We have had the scooter in its box since early December, and have been talking about it and taunting her with it for weeks. We kept promising she could have it and ride it when she learned to go potty like a big girl. Motivation is key!

Below are our pics from this milestone! Enjoy.

Love to all,
Leah

Mag's array of tinkerbell and dora panties...they were a major key to this process! She needed the right motivation, you know?


I know she is gonna KILL me someday for this pic...but at least you can't see her face. Had to document her efforts, and our "potty central"...in our living room, no less!

Proud "big girl" with her princess scooter!

Daddy and his girl...he was giving her some scooter lessons. Now Todd is calling this her "pooper-scooter", haha, since it was her reward for that task!

Just a sweet pic of our girl, doing one of the things she loves most...painting! We do it at least once a day, I swear.

Love her sooooo much!

So next time you see our Mag, you will have to ask her about going potty like a big girl. She loves talking about! No lie...we have had to call Daddy, Gigi/Papa, Grandma/Papaw, and friends just about everyday to tell them about going potty!

Oh, the great joys of PARENTHOOD!

Can of this, can of that...recipe!

So....am I the only one who always want to eat/cook warm soups and chili's when it is super cold outside???

Well with all the recent chatter about our "arctic blast" coming in the next few days, Mag and I made a mad dash to Wal-Mart today to stock up before the cold hits. (Wal-Mart was a zoo!) While I was there I decided "homemade stew" and "potato soup" were gonna be on the menu this week.

Tonight I am making homemade beef stew, and thought I would post the recipe. It is really easy, and last for a few days or feeds lots of people.

Here you go...

Homeade Beef Stew

1 large can "homestyle large cut Veg-all" (has potato, celery, carrots)

1 can corn

1 can cut greeen beans

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can dark red kidney beans (can use any beans of your choice--garbanzo, pinto, navy etc)

1 can tomatoe sauce

1/4 - 1/2 chopped onion

1-2 lb. ground beef or turkey

"Dash of" to taste--salt, pepper, garlic and red pepper if you prefer.

Combine all "cans of", including their juice or liquid. Add chopped onions and spices. Bring to boil then add raw beef or turkey in tiny pinches. I just pinch off a small piece about dime to quarter size of raw meat and add to the boiling mixture. To add 1 lb, I do this over about 5 minutes...while stirring intermittently. Boil for 5-10 more minutes to ensure that meat is fully cooked. Let simmer in a crock pot or on the stove for an hour or for the day. Enjoy with cornbread or crackers!

This recipe is great because it is fast, easy and all in 1 single pot. Small mess and quick clean up. Also, this recipe can be tailored to you and your families individual tastes and diet. Sub in whatever are your fave veggies and take out whatever you don't like...you know? You can't mess it up! You should tailor the seasonings to your taste as well. I love a little spice, so that is why I add the red pepper...but you can leave it out.

P.S I always try to buy the "no salt added" cans of veggies and sauce. The less extra sodium the better for our health.

Love to all,

Leah

Happy New Year~2010!!!

Happy New Year to All!

Oh, how I can't wait for this year to unfold!








Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord." They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT)

Love to all,
Leah

Happy Birthday, Todd!

Happy Birthday my Todd!

Today was not only New Year's Eve... but more importantly a day to celebrate Todd. My man turned 33 today! Isn't it fun to know that God saved the best, for last...the last day of the year that is???? Maggie and I are the 2 luckiest girls to get to have this man in our lives! Todd is a wonderful husband, friend and father. I hope you enjoyed your day today, love! We love you and thank God for you today and everyday!

Todd getting some help from Snow White...I mean Maggie...blowing out his candles. This girl has taken a new liking to "dress up" and has literally had this precious Snow White get-up on for about 4 days straight! Ha! Love little girls!


At Todd's request...his most favorite cake of all...it is a Hunt recipe called...Hunt hol-e-y cake! It is a yummy chocolate sheet cake with as many holes pressed into it with a wooden handle of a spoon, then a "to die for" chocolate drizzle poured over and into the holes! Really easy (lucky me) and yummy for days!

P.S Let me know if you want the recipe!

Love to all,
Leah