...and she's mobile...

I am in SO much trouble.  Not only has Pea (aka Abbi) started crawling - and pretty fast when she really wants something - she has started pulling herself up against stuff and walking.  Slowly but surely my little miracle baby is growing up...too fast.  Seems like yesterday she was this little baby sleeping on my desk.  Now, she's crawling all over the office.

We still only have 2 teeth (after almost 2 1/2 months) but I know there are more coming in.  Fingers, toys, my shirt - everything goes in her mouth.  Everything, that is, except food.  She will not eat food for ANYTHING!  Bottles - fine!  Spoon of food - NEVER!  I actually put some baby food in her bottle so she'd at least get the taste of it.  She didn't want it at first but then drank almost the whole bottle.  Hopefully that helps.  It was just Banana Orange Medley...so a little like breakfast.  Can't imagine putting the Vegetable Macaroni & Cheese in there.  Ick.

I've been on Pinterest like an addict looking for ideas for her first birthday party.  Holy crap - there is so much I'd love to do.  I did decide to splurge on the cake.  Found one and talked to the bakery downstairs at work...they will do it for $70.  Hmmm - my Pea is definitely worth it.  I've got the shelter at the park reserved and we are all set!  I can't wait!

Still no word from SD or his family - which is a good thing.  According to his BFF he wants to wait until she is older before he sees her.  Um, sorry buddy...that ain't happenin'.  You aren't going to waltz into her life whenever you damn well feel like it.  You don't claim her now - what difference will it make in a year or two?  Oops...sorry for the vent.

Okay - coffee is gone and it's time to get ready for work.  Make it a fabulous day!

We Have A Tooth!

At age 7 months 1 week, Abigail got her first tooth!  It's been HELL ever since as I think she is working on cutting more.  She has been stuffy with a runny nose, lots of drooling, and constantly chewing on anything she can get in her mouth.  Oy vey.  I'll be glad when this is all over!

She is almost completely mobile too.  She will roll over onto her tummy and go backwards (she can't quite figure out how to go forward).  I've left her on the living room floor, gone into the kitchen for a quick second, and she's scooted herself to behind the couch.  She will just look up at me like "What's wrong, momma?"

Time to start baby-proofing!!

Two years later...

It's been a LONG time since I last posted!  A lot has happened so let me fill you in.

I started an AWESOME job in February 2011.  I am the Office Manager for a painting contractor.  Love...love...LOVE my job!  I am the only female so no bitchy women to work with.  The guys can whine and complain but nothing like an office full of females.  So glad I'm out of that mess.  Our office used to be off 2nd and University (scary neighborhood) but we moved last March to Clive.  Really neat office - a wall of windows with a southern view.

Fast forward to 2012 (not much else exciting happened in 2011)!  My ex-boyfriend and I broke up in September so it was just Levi and I.  I started seeing someone late October/early November.  Found out on New Years Day that I was pregnant.  Talk about a shock!  From "you'll never have any more kids" to "yes, you're pregnant" - I was totally not ready for that.  In fact, I was in denial for almost 2 months.  Telling him was hard...telling my parents was harder.  He said he didn't want any more kids (he has 2) and wished I would have told him sooner so we could have "gotten it taken care of".  Sorry buddy - not an option.  I heard all the lies...he wasn't sure what to do, he didn't want to ruin what we had, yes he wanted to be in her life.  Come to find out - he went back to his ex-wife 3 months after I told him AND told everyone in his family she wasn't his.  Oh well, I have a beautiful little girl I don't have to share!

Abigail Lyn was born on August 17th, 2012 at 7:54 am via c-section.  She weighed 7 lbs. .5 ozs. and was 18" long.  She had strawberry blond hair and navy blue eyes and looks exactly like her dad.  And she is perfect in every way!

These are from her 6 month photo session.  She didn't like the continuous flash (went to Portrait Innovations) so she teared up quite a bit.  Believe it or not, we got her to smile by pulling up Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (her favorite show) on my phone!

She is the light of my life, my entire world.  I am so thankful that I was chosen to be her momma.  She adores her big brother (and I'm pretty sure he feels the same about her).

We moved from the south side to the west side the end of October.  Levi can ride his bike to and from school (we are 8 blocks west of his dad) and it only takes me 10 minutes to get to work!  It's so nice not to have to share a room with a baby.  My room is actually an addition off her room so I can shut her door and we have our own little wing.  It was painted a soft yellow - I really didn't like it at first but it looks really good with the raspberry pink and lilac purple of her bedding set!  In a couple of years when Levi moves out she will get his room and I'll get my couponing office!  More about that in the next post.  ;-)

So, this blog may have taken a different direction for a little while, but I promise once she becomes a little more independent (and the weather becomes nicer) I will get back to cooking & crafting...so stick around!

Time for a Food Post!

I've had this blog for a few months now and really don't write much.  However, I absolutely HAVE to write about this new recipe.

Since I have so much free time now (LOL), I've been scouring my cookbooks for new recipes to try.  I get so tired of the same old things every other week...and I say every other week because Levi is extremely picky and won't eat anything with vegetables or anything spicy.  The weeks he is with his dad I love to experiment.  Tonight is no exception!

First off, let me say I love collecting cookbooks.  Not just any old cookbook...cookbooks from churches or organizations.  I have 4 cookbooks from churches back home and wish Bethany Lutheran would make one.

Anywho...the recipe I am trying is called Beef Stew Bake.  It smells heavenly and it isn't even done yet!

Start by browning 1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat in 2 Tbs. hot shortening (I had Hy-Vee cut up a top round roast - cheaper than buying the actual labeled stew meat).  I did season with salt and pepper.  Once it's browned, drain off the fat and add 1 cup tomato juice, 1 (10 1/2 oz) can mushroom gravy (I used beef because I couldn't find mushroom), 1 envelope dry onion soup mix (I used Beefy Onion since I had it on hand), and 1 tsp. prepared horseradish (I used 1 1/2 tsp.)  Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.  While that is simmering, pare and quarter 4 medium potatoes and place in bottom of 2 quart casserole.  Top with meat mixture.  Bake, covered, for 1 1/2 hours or until meat and potatoes are tender.

Since I didn't have any horseradish on hand, I had to buy a whole jar (not very big, but still).  Any ideas on what to do with the rest?  Besides Bloody Mary's...

UPDATE:  The stew was AWESOME!  I would definitely recommend doubling it if even think you'll like it.  I would also add another half of the sauce part.  It got too dry and I think more sauce would have helped.  Otherwise, it is a keeper!

Tastebook

I have recently discovered a cool website - Tastebook.com - where you can enter your recipes to (basically) make your own cookbook.

I have a LOT of recipes I've torn from magazines, ones I've written down from friends, and ones I've printed off the net.  My skinny manilla folder is overflowing!  When we moved I had to rubberband it just so the stuff wouldn't fall out...it's really that bad.  Quite a few of the recipes are ones that I printed off Weight Watchers a number of years ago (actually in 2001) that I want to try but haven't yet - and just can't seem to toss them.

I honestly don't know how I found this website...maybe it was a typo or it popped up from another site I was on.  Who knows.  But, I have decided that since I have so much free time now (ha!) I am going to get all my grandma's recipes - she was an AMAZING cook - and make a cookbook so all us grandkids can have copies of her recipes.  I know my aunt is doing the same with my other grandma's recipes (I hope she adds her Pumpkin Bar recipe AND the recipe for the jello and cottage cheese salad - it's really good).  Ah...brings back childhood memories.

My First Post!

Here is sit...and SO not sure what to write.  I read blogs all the time but have no clue what to say!

I wouldn't consider myself very crafty by any means.  However, I have found that I LOVE making things and seeing the faces of those receiving the item.  So, I forge forward to learn and try to become more creative.

For a number of years I have made different things.  It started out with padded photo albums...but with everything going digital I knew I couldn't do that.  Then I started making decorative wreaths...cutting 4" squares of fabric and "punching" them into a straw wreath.  I could do anything - Halloween, Christmas, a color-themed to match a kitchen, whatever.  But country has gone out the window, so to speak.  Now I make People Feeders.  What are People Feeders you ask?  Let me show you...

A little history...when I was a kid (probably early teens) my grandma - who lived less than 1/4 mile down the road - had one of these on her kitchen table.  If I recall correctly, she said she got it at a craft show in Waverly.  Anyway, my sisters and I thought they were the coolest thing so Grandma got one for me.  I treasured that thing and used it so much the paint wore off!

I've made at least 2 dozen of these - ranging from sports teams to holidays.  My favorite ones are the two pictured above.  I love how the white looks like frost or snow.  Some time (soon) I'm going to figure out how to decorate the glass jar.  Now to just figure out how to "advertise" my creations!

Next project - cake decorating!  Heaven help me.