Handwriting and the End of Civilization

  A recent discussion when my whole family was gathered together has really had me thinking. My cousin Jennifer told us that her son, Braden's, teacher was making him learn how to hold a pencil "correctly" - and that sparked enough controversy - but that wasn't what struck me. She brought out a piece of paper on which Braden had been practicing his cursive, to show us how legible his handwriting was without correction, and I was struck by the fact that he was voluntarily practicing his cursive. You see, if you don't have kids, or don't pay very close attention to the media (as I occasionally do), you might not know: Public schools have decided not to teach children how to write in cursive anymore. The explanation is that typing skills are much more relevant in today's society, and learning cursive just isn't necessary anymore.

  While this may be true, it truly frightens me. I feel like this is just a small step away from deciding not to teach children to write at all.
  About a year ago I read the Matched series by Ally Condie. It is a very fun, three-part, young adult fictional series that reminded me quite a bit of Farenheit 451 (and if you've never read that fantastic piece of literature, you need to stop reading this immediately and go read it, NOW) . The premise is of a future dystopian civilization in which citizens no longer have any free will or creativity. "The Society" has carefully selected 100 songs, 100 poems, 100 paintings, etc. that its citizens may still enjoy; each are mild and should not inspire or incite any kind of free thinking. Meals are selected for you to best meat your nutritional needs, mates are chosen for you based on who will have the best genetically optimal offspring, and, of course, who is the most likely to be compatible so that you actually want to reproduce. But one of the most important parts of the plot is that everything - everything- is now done on screens. Paper is used only to receive information from The Society. No one knows how to write anymore. And because no one knows how to write, there is no un-monitored communication.

  I know it may seem like a rather large mental jump to go from not teaching cursive to the downfall of civilization, but I don't think it's that far a stretch. I think if the Powers That Be can decide that cursive is no longer necessary it cannot be too long before they determine that printing isn't no longer needed as well. You can decide for yourselves whether or not that's a problem. 

When the Poop Hits the Fan

  The past two weeks have been rough for the Franklin family. Pregnancy hormones, nausea, fatigue and the reality of mortality have been pervasive.

  A sweet friend lost her baby, very early in her pregnancy. She had the same kind of internal bleeding that I did, but God took her baby - and I can't stop asking why? It could have just as easily been my family going through this. I know most people don't understand, but I am at times wracked with guilt because my baby is healthy and hers is gone, especially when I think of all of the times I have complained throughout this pregnancy. I feel guilty when I post my weekly bump photos. I am mourning the loss with my friend.
  This new, still-cooking baby has made life in our home very difficult at times. I have 0 energy for my toddler, my husband, my home. I have thrown up innumerable times, sometimes having to do that while I hold Sam. I have constant mood swings and have to apologize to my poor husband for snapping at him over crazy-stupid things. I have told David over and over and over and over how much I hate being pregnant and how this is "the last human I am going to make."
  Twice we have had major scares with this pregnancy, scares like we did not have with Sam. Twice I have been overwhelmed with guilt and fear that I was losing the baby I had prayed so hard for, waited six months for, and then complained about incessantly since it made me feel so awful.

  The day after the news of my friend's baby, I received a call from my mom telling me that my favorite cousins on my dad's side had been lost in a plane crash. They left behind parents, siblings, four sons and a granddaughter. It was their first ride together in the small plane he had bought just over a month ago. And over and over, I asked God why? We were not extremely close. I had spent a week with them the summer I was 17, and we kept in touch online still. David didn't understand why it hit me so hard; maybe it's just the crazy baby hormones. Regardless, it has hit me very hard. Two weeks later, I still sometimes randomly weep over these losses.

  In all of this I have been reminded, repeatedly, that nothing in life is guaranteed. The outcome of my pregnancy is not promised. Waking up tomorrow is not assured. Sam growing up and becoming a man, husband, father, is not secure. The only thing that I - that we - can be sure of is that our God is the same yesterday, tomorrow and today. The only thing we can be sure of is that when trials hit us - and we can be sure that they will - that we can rest in our unchanging God, who is in control, who has not promised that "He won't give us more than we can handle", who does love us, will not leave us or forsake us.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When darkness seems to hid His face,

I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand;

All other ground is sinking sand.
- Edward Mote, 1834

Sam Needs YOU!

  David, Sammy and I have some great news and some not-so-great news. First for The Good News:

 

(taken last week)

  We are thrilled to announce our family is growing even more! After almost six months of hoping and praying for another, we are thrilled. Our new Little will be joining us Mid-April, 2014 (due date 4/15/14). We have been so excited to share our great news, but were hoping to wait a few more weeks - unfortunately, our not-so-great news is forcing our hand a little earlier than we'd planed. 

  The Not-So-Great News:
  Thursday evening at about 5:30, I suddenly started to feel a very sharp, very constant pain in the general vicinity of my right ovary. I waited a half-hour and then asked a couple close mommy friends and my doula (also a very dear friend) for some prayer. Around 7:00, my doula (Crissi, best ever) called me and she recommended I call my midwife, Kathleen (also best ever), to let her know what's going on and see what she thought I should do about it. Kathleen immediately suggested I go to the ER, and I told her that wasn't what I had been hoping to hear. She then said I could try to see if I could get through the pain through the night, and then go somewhere and get a sonogram in the morning, but if the pain got worse to go to the ER immediately. That sounded much better to me.
  An hour later, the pain was still persisting and I was starting to wonder if I'd be able to sleep through it and becoming increasingly worried about an ectopic pregnancy. I started asking David what he thought we should do. Thirty minutes later the pain increased slightly and we had our answer. Our friend Sarah Long had offered to come stay with Sam while he slept, so I called her and she immediately came over. God bless Sarah.
  David and I got to the hospital where I was checked in, gowned, and the adventure began. There was a woman across the hall who sounded like she had the plague (probably "just" whooping cough) and a guy two doors down who was literally certifiable and kept shouting "Viva Mexico!" They drew blood and told me to sit tight and wait for the sonographer. 45 minutes later, around 11:15, my chariot was finally wheeled down the hall to the sonogram - sans David. I'm still not sure why David couldn't come. The sonographer reminded me of Jeff Bridges (and his name was Jeff) and I liked him a lot. He told me they were looking for a torqued ovary (an ovary that was twisted, and would require emergent surgery), an ectopic pregnancy (also emergent), or twins with one pregnancy outside the uterus (what?!). I both appreciated his information and panicked slightly - especially without my David there to hold my hand.
  After a few minutes, he told me my ovaries looked fine and then I got to see our little Peanut. The heartbeat looked good, and he/she measured right at 7 weeks, 5 days. (And there's only one, hooray!) The sonographer, after a while, found a spot that he explained was a small bleed, but said they were "not usually associated with negative outcomes." After 40 minutes in all (we had been told 20), with wands stuck in places I'd like to never have wands again, I was finally wheeled back to David. I told him the good news and showed him the picture I was able to take of our Peanut.
  A little while later the doctor finally came in for the first time and, oh, my. His bedside manner left something to be (greatly) desired. He explained that the bleed was a subchorionic hemorrage, my uterus was fraying, and that I couldn't do any heavy lifting for the next couple of weeks. I asked him what I should do about my 22lb, 11-month-old. His response? "Well, I can't tell you what to do in your personal life, but if you want to keep this pregnancy, then you can't lift anything for the next couple weeks and you need to take it easy for the rest of the pregnancy." He was a gem, y'all. He walked out and I lost it for a second. I hysterically asked David what on earth we were going to do. And then we were discharged, thank you very much, you can go home.

  So here we are, trying to adjust to a life where Mama can't lift anything and is having to "take it easy" - something I don't do well. I think God is trying to teach me to ask for help - something else which I really do not do well. So here I am. Asking for help.
  Unfortunately, with David's new job he has no flexibility and I am trying to figure out how to make it through a day without lifting my 11-month-old. Forget putting him in his bed. Or the bath. Or taking out the trash. Or carrying too much laundry. I'm struggling, and it's only been two days.
  Another very dear friend (there's a special place in heaven for you, Callie Herron) has created a calendar if you are willing and able to help bring a meal (at the moment I still have pain when I am up for too long and Sam goes NUTS if I can't hold him when I'm in the kitchen) or to come sit and help with the Bean or if you want to take him with you for a while, it would be a HUGE help and blessing to our family. Leave a comment with your email and I'll forward it to you. We especially covet prayer right now for mama and the Little we are trying to protect, though, as we know our God is mighty and loving and always listening to our prayers.

  We are tired, we are thrilled, we are anxious, we are trusting God. We are exceedingly grateful for the help we have already received, for our tremendous support system, and for the opportunity for us to learn and grow together.

~ David, Emily, Sammy & the Peanut

Bourbon Chicken (Easy Peasy Dinners: 3)

  I found this recipe on - you guessed it - Pinterest. However, it was incorrectly labeled as a crockpot recipe, which I was looking through one night trying to find easy meals, so I'm glad I tried it anyway. It was SO easy and SO yummy! So here is my copycat recipe of someone else's copycat recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (this was enough to give the sauce a really good kick, so use more or less to taste preferences)
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar (I didn't have any, so I used white vinegar and it worked fine)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup soy sauce (I was generous)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (if you like your sauce a little thicker like we do)

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients except chicken and olive oil in a bowl ahead of time.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add chicken. Cook thoroughly.  

Add sauce and cook over medium heat until it comes to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes uncovered. 

Serve over hot rice and enjoy! 

The Broke Mama's Guide To Saving Moolah

  Several people have been asking me lately "How/where do you find these deals?" So here it is: This mama's 6 best tips for getting stuff for free or close to it.

  1. Pay Attention! This may seem like a "duh" do you, but you'd be amazed at how much stuff you can get for free if you just pay attention! While listening to the radio, my aunt heard an ad about Ace Hardware having a promotion on paint. We went in, filled out a little card (still haven't gotten any mailers yet), and got 2 free quarts of paint! So now I can repaint a piece of furniture for free! And via Facebook the other day, I found out about a deal for 101 4x6" photos ($15.15) for free. Only paid $8 on shipping.

  2. Ask your friends/look online. Through mama friends of mine, I found out about story time at the library, where Sam and I go and get to play and see other babies and mamas every week for free; I found out about Emler Swim School's Bathtime Babies class, where infants 0-6 months swim once a week, and all we paid was the $25 registration fee!
  It was also through friends/family that I heard about Aldi stores (a great place to buy off-brand groceries for very good prices!), a thrift store where I got 11 pieces of clothing for $35, and Sprouts' Wednesdays (when their weekly mailer comes out and they have both the previous and the new week's items on sale).

3. Look online. It seems cliche or dumb to say it - but Pinterest is also a great resource! There are all kinds of tips and tricks on it - if you'll actually follow through and use them! I read a tip that said to pick out a color swatch card at Home Depot or Lowe's and ask them for a sample in each color, and you get just enough paint to paint each drawer on a dresser in the same color scheme. Haven't tried it yet - but only because I haven't decided which color swatch matches Sam's bedding best yet. I will be trying this (as soon as Jennifer brings me my old dresser).
  Websites like Restaurant.com offer terrific deals on restaurant gift certificates (we often get $25 gift certificates for $10), and LivingSocial and Groupon are great sites to use as well (I've found discounts on everything from restaurants to Nothing Bundt Cakes and DryBar). David also finds great deals on Best Buy's daily "Goods" emails on electronics or movies for great prices!

  4. Use the Dollar Store! You would not believe what you can find at the dollar store: picture frames, baskets/buckets for storage, party items, bandaids, pregnancy tests (that are JUST as effective as the $15 ones!)... In the last month, I bought two planters and several packets of seeds for my patio that are now springing to life, and a butt-load of picture frames (total cost: $22). The latter, combined with my recent photo scores, means I can finally finish my photo wall in the living room! I can't wait to finish and show y'all the finished result.

  5. Create an email address for mailing lists. This keeps your inbox (and spam folder) from getting clogged up with junk and good stuff. It also aids you greatly with step 6.

  6. Sign up, sign up, sign up!! I get daily emails offering freebies and fantastic deals. In the last month I was able to get two 8x10" photos (normally $4 - hello, wedding and maternity photos!), and a photo book (normally $20+ - our weekly pregnancy photos all in one book!) - and all I paid was shipping! (If you're counting, that means I've now saved at least $49 just on photos!) Sites like Shutterfly send you all kinds of discounts and freebies, BuyBuyBaby sends you 20% off coupons all the time (you can use these at Bed Bath & Beyond too, and vice versa) and Joann Fabrics sends coupons for discounts like 20-50% off of one regularly priced item all the time.

  So there you have it. The Broke Mama's Guide to Saving Moolah. I hope this helps or inspires someone. It's been a ton of fun for me seeing how much money I can save and still add to/decorate my home, entertain Sammy, and get things done! Happy Saving! And if you have any great tips, please share them, too!

Love And Apologies or "My Neighbor Is My Neighbor"

  I owe you an apology.

  For some reason having a baby has brought out the selfishness in me. Instead of becoming more selfless, patient and forgiving, I have become more selfish, impatient and intolerant. I have felt more entitled because "I have a baby!" And this is crap.
  Yes, I am tired. Yes, I am constantly covered in drool. Yes, I am dealing with a creature who whines and cries a great deal of the day and doesn't understand "no" or "just a minute!" But you know what? So are a lot of other people, and they don't become as intolerant as I have.

  Specifically, I need to apologize for all the hatred I have spewed toward our upstairs neighbors. They are loud - and at truly unreasonable hours - and I have moaned, whined, cried and shouted about it. They have never apologized for their behavior and this has, at times, infuriated me. And this is crap.

  You see, I am holding them to a standard - my standard - that they do not know or understand. I am trying to demand that they think and behave as I think and behave without giving them any reason to. I was convicted of my behavior on Sunday, when I realized I would be absolutely and justifiably ashamed if our neighbors ever found out I call myself a Christian. What kind of Love am I showing them when I call the cops on them because I cannot sleep? What kind of Grace am I showing when I verbally lambaste them to my friends - even though they do not know me?
  Additionally, I should apologize to many, many drivers who have been on the road with me for the reasons listed above...and some really bad thoughts.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Love never ends." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

 So I apologize. I am sorry for being so selfish and unforgiving. I am sorry for being hateful and for feeling justified in it. I am sorry for being such a horrible example of God's Love to my literal and figurative neighbors (see "The Good Samaritan").

  And while I have your attention for a moment, I'd like to bring up all of the Proposition 8 Hullabaloo. I have seen a lot of hatred online today, and I am heartbroken. Especially if you claim to be against gay marriage because of your faith, you are held to a higher standard. Read the verses again. Love is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way! Are we living this out?

  We are held to this standard. But you know what? People who do not hold our beliefs are not. They neither know nor understand our standard, so it is impossibly unfair and unrealistic to hold them to this. We cannot expect them to make the same choices as we when they do not have the same Influence. They do not know the Truth.

  Now don't for one second think that this means that I am saying, "We should just love everyone and accept everything." I am not. Having a set of standards means that there are things that are right and wrong. I am not preaching tolerance, but Grace. Jesus did not go around telling those who didn't understand Him off, or calling them names, or starting public debates trying to shame them. He lovingly, patiently - and often quietly - showed them the Truth.

  Please, I beg of you, remember this from today forward. You never know what kind of influence you have in someone's life - don't add to the negative Christian stereotype. Let's be the ones to shine the Light in the darkness - not push others farther away.

  And if you happen to be someone who has been turned off by Christianity, first of all thank you for reading this far. But more importantly, I am so exceedingly sorry and heartbroken by what has been done to you. I cannot tell you how much my heart aches for you. All I can say is that I write this in tears and in hope for you. I pray that you will know God's true Love. I pray that you will have in your life people who can show you what it really means to "follow Christ." And I beg your forgiveness. We Christians are human, it's true, but I apologize for when we fail to live up to our own standards.

  I leave you with Paul's words in Philippians 2:14-16

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." (emphasis mine)

Random Factoids

It's been a long day - long week, really - and I thought I could use a little cheering up. So here are 10 Random Facts about yours truly.

1. I get the hiccups whenever I am nervous and/or excited about something. Every first date. Every vacation. Last Sunday before running the slides for church for the first time in 6 years. 
2. I was very, very trusting as a child. Some might say gullible. I like "trusting" much better. I was convinced to eat grass, Playdoh and chalk as a child. Chalk, my friends, does NOT taste like bubblegum. Don't ever believe anyone who tells you otherwise. 
3. I am a big kid. I still love Baskin Robbins' Bubblegum ice cream. I have all of the Mighty Ducks movies and the Never Ending Story, parts I & II (III was crap). I am currently watching the Mighty Ducks. I am giddy whenever it snows and I have to keep myself from buying "silly string" whenever I see it in a store. The list goes on.
4. I was "That Kid" growing up. My parents punished me by taking away my books. I ran out of Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew books around age 11 and started reading Moby Dick, The Three Musketeers and my mom's John Grisham novels for fun. When my mom would succeed in kicking me outdoors to "play", she would find me - without fail - on the front porch or under a tree with a book. This passion also gave me the ability to use words liek "ubiquitous" in every-day conversation. Verbosity rocks, y'all. 
5. Because I was That Kid, I was bullied. A lot. And you know what? I survived it. It sucked. It was hard when my only real friends were also That Kid - and they were usually That Boys - but they ended up being Those Friends. Those Friends are the ones who are still in my life today, when all of the others have moved on or gotten busy. 
6. I've been off caffeine for 10 years now, so if I don't get my morning shower - watch out.
7. I dream a ton. I mean, I remember 3-5 dreams every. Single. Night. And folks, they're getting weirder every year. Recurring dreams include: trying to be Young Elvis Presley's friend - because he's actually a sad, lonely teenager; being in an elevator that starts going sideways and backwards and all over the place, so that I'm falling all over the place (thank you, Willy Wonka); and being underwater and realizing I can breathe - but I usually don't want my captors or the killer bees chasing me to know this.
8. I have had many close calls in my life. Not the least of these is the time then-kitten Francois got too close to a candle and caught his tail on fire. It was so slight that it went out as he ran away, but in those oh-so-brief seconds I envisioned my entire apartment burning to the ground and wondering what the HECK to do with the cat.
9. I teared up during Ice Age when I thought Diego was dead.
10. My eyes change color with my mood. Usually blue-green, they are a deep blue when I'm very happy and hazel when I'm pissed. Wonder how I'm feeling? Check the eyes.

  And now that I have rambled on incessantly and unnecessarily, I'm going to bed - where hopefully I'll have the under-water-breathing dream, and not the elevator madness. Congratulations on reading the whole thing. Night, all!

Easy-Peasy Dinners 2: Soup and Rice

  Really tired after a long day and need something more than a microwave dinner? Sick, but sick of chicken noodle soup? Hungry for "real" food but just can't go to the effort of making a "real" dinner? You want a simple, yummy meal? I have the answer!

1 can of soup (we love Progresso's "Hearty Pot Roast & Vegetables" or "Steak & Vegetables")
1/2 cup of cooked rice
Whatever seasoning you want

  In the Franklin house, I cook the rice and then throw the soup in when it's done. I always add a little fresh cilantro, dried minced garlic, pepper and fajita seasoning (a new favorite in my kitchen arsenal, you can find it in the spice aisle at Walmart). Voila! You're done! If I'm making enough for David and me, I double the rice and add a can of soup. It's the go-to for us when nothing else sounds good/easy/we've gotten home too late/we're too lazy to do anything else/it's cold outside/whatever.

  Happy (lazy) eating!

Prayer

  As most of my friends know, almost exactly two years ago I had surgery on my left shoulder to repair a post-labral tear (the tissue that holds the shoulder joint in place). This tear had been undetectable for a year and a half, and so I had just been living in pain until the exploratory surgery. The repair was delicate and the recovery process six months long, and the first couple of months were difficult, but manageable.

  Two days ago I started having loud pops in my shoulder - not particular unusual. I had somewhere between 2 and 4 in two days. And then last night I noticed that I very suddenly had full range of motion back (I'd only had 80-90% until now), and my shoulder felt like it was grinding when I moved it. And then the pain started.

  I think my repair has come undone.

  I am terrified.

  And I am facing two major dilemmas right now.

1. David is about to change jobs, which will mean new insurance. Right now I haven't seen a doctor for my shoulder in a year and a half. If I see one now, our new insurance provider may consider this issue to be "pre-existing" and not cover it. I am already in the level of pain that matches that of my pre-op days. Do I go in right away or do I wait? Will it make a difference for my shoulder? I don't know what to do.

2. If I have undone my repair, and I require surgery again...what do I do? I wouldn't be able to hold my baby for 3 months, possibly more. And I won't be able to nurse anymore because of all the drugs. And with my Endometriosis, we were told to have all the children we want immediately. So do we wait until I'm done recovering from another potential operation to try to have another baby? Will we be able to have another baby then? Sammy was a miracle. Will God give us two miracles? I don't know what to do.

And I guess I have a third dilemma: What do I do about the pain? Before my operation, my pain was constant, I mean truly non-stop. At best, it was a constant, dull "4" on the pain scale of 10. I couldn't do laundry, I couldn't do dishes, I couldn't even make the bed most days because of how much it would hurt me. And I now have a nearly 18lb. baby (who gained two pounds in two weeks). Before my operation, narcotics were the only thing that worked, and I hated it. I was constantly a little high, constantly worrying how much more my body could take... And I'm nursing now. I don't know what to do.

  Please pray for me as I - we - wrestle through these questions. I know that everything at this point is just hypothetical, I know that I shouldn't worry... I just struggled through this pain for a year and a half - two, if you count the post-op time. I am terrified of what this pain will do to my poor baby when I can't pick him up every time he wants me. I'm already struggling through that today, and we're both miserable for it. It's daunting. It's overwhelming. And I don't know what to do.

Easy-Peasy Dinners, Pt. 1: Ranch Rotisserie Chicken Pasta

  This was another Pinterest recipe with which I took some creative liberties. When I had to run through the grocery store last week around dinner time, I decided to pick up a rotisserie chicken, remembering I had seen something online with recipes to "fix it up". I used one of the recipes I found the first night and it was good...But added my own little twist to it when I made it the next night (a rotisserie chicken can last a while between two people when you know how to do it right!). And the best part? Dinner's ready, start to finish, in ten minutes. Here's what I did:

Ranch Rotisserie Chicken Pasta

• 1/2 boxed pasta - I used Barilla's bowtie, but shells or rigatoni would work just as well!
• 3 Tbs butter
• 2-3 Tbs flour
• 1 package dry Ranch seasoning mix
• 2 cups milk or Half & Half (less flour if you're using the thicker dairy product)
• 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, either sliced thinly or shredded (any cheese will work, but the Swiss and Ranch flavors combine nicely)
• 1/2 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken  (approximately 1 leg/thigh quarter of the chicken)

1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box and then drain.

2. While this is cooking, in a medium-sized pot, on a medium-low heat melt 1 Tbs of the butter and then sautee the onion until it's opaque. Lower the heat and then add the remaining butter. Once it's melted, add the flour and whisk until it makes a thick, bubbling paste. Slowly combine the milk until thickened and bubbling. Cook 1 additional minute, then add the cheese. (The original recipe called for "shredded" cheese here, but I had deli slices, so I used about four of those and it was perfect!) Turn the heat to "low" and add the Ranch and pepper and combine. Last, add the chicken and combine. 

3. Combine pasta and sauce and enjoy!* Dinner's done in 10 minutes! David could not stop going on about this recipe, even calling it his "new favorite dish" - possibly even over hamburgers! If you know my husband, you know a person could never receive a higher compliment on their cooking. I hope y'all enjoy this easy meal as much as we did!

*The original recipe called for crumbled bacon to be served on top of the dish, which I'm sure would be yummy! We just don't buy a lot of bacon and I used what we had. I also added a pinch of dried cilantro to the sauce and it was quite yummy, too. Also, this recipe was just enough for both David and I, so if feeding more, you'd want to at least double it.

Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

  Brought to you by (my own take on) a Pinterest recipe! See, the recipe I found really just called for "chicken breasts, enchilada sauce, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, green onions and some cilantro on top." No other information - no timing instructions, no explanation of what "enchilada sauce" is or where to find it, nothing. So I did what every other great chef of the day does: I took to the interweb.

  After a little while, I found what looked like a good recipe for enchilada sauce - and in a stroke of luck, I had all the ingredients!

Enchilada Sauce

1/2 Cup butter

1/2 Cup flour (for gluten-free, use about 4 Tbs. of corn starch)

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder (I subbed onion flakes)

1 tsp. black pepper

4 Cups broth or boullion

1 8oz. can tomato sauce

1. Melt butter into medium-size pot and then add flour and mix until you have a smooth paste. 

2. Add the spices and continue to stir until bubbly.

3. Whisk in broth and bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until the sauce is thickened.

Makes 5-6 cups of sauce, enough for two 9x13 pans of enchiladas. 

Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 the enchilada sauce

1 pkt. taco seasoning OR 1 10oz. can Rotel

Cook the chicken, enchilada sauce and seasoning or Rotel in the crockpot on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours. Serve with rice and/or tortillas, shredded cheese and cilantro.

  I forgot to add the Rotel like I meant to, but the chicken was still really yummy. I actually cooked 2lbs of chicken and used all the sauce (I would have frozen the remainder if I had only done 1lb) and it fed 4 people two helpings each! I also meant to take a picture of how it turned out, but we ate it all too quickly. The chicken was moist, tender and almost fell apart on its own. It was super easy, too! I just made the sauce the night before so I could throw it all in the pot early in the morning and have it ready for lunch after church. I hope y'all enjoy it as much as we did! And let me know if you find your own ways to tweak it and make it yummier!

For New Mommies

  Dear Mommy-To-Be's,

  This is my letter to you, the expectant-with-no-idea-what-to-expect friend. Here are the things that have saved our life and the things we found to be unnecessary. This is my love letter to you.

Things That Weren't Needed:

• Wipe warmer - though this was handy the first couple days, when baby is most aware of the cold, it really wasn't necessary. Even our little boy adjusted pretty quickly.
• A Sling - while you will need a carrying system (see below), the sling did not work for us. Sammy was in a wonky position, it put too much weight on one shoulder, and he wasn't secure enough against me to allow me to do much. 
• A Truckload of Newborn Onesies - Judge me all you want, but I only changed Sam's outfit every two days at first. He simply didn't get dirty (nursing babies don't spit up for a while), and we were mostly just hanging out in bed. Also, he grew out of the newborn size fairly quickly. We mostly used gowns and a handful of onesies. 

Things That Saved Our Life:

• Our Stroller/Carseat Combo - The Britax B-Agile Travel System has been one of the best investments we've made. This system may not be the one for you, but I hope you find the one that is! And remember to consider:
• How much does your system weigh? If you'll be carting it around the most without your hubby, make sure you can manage it on your own! We "test drove" several systems that were highly recommended, but in the end, we chose the one that was both the safest and most easily carried for me. Our stroller only weighs 15 pounds, which was much easier for me to carry around (especially keeping in mind that my left shoulder is not what it used to be). 
• How easily does it move? Our system is a 3-wheeled breeze. In fact, sometimes it's too smooth a ride - and the lack of bumps and vibrations wakes Sam up. The carseat, too, is easily transferred from one car to another (though we're still going to buy another base for David's car). 
• What will you be using it for? Our stroller is really only used for walking around, and it's great for that! 

• Sign Up For Mailing Lists - this can save you beaucoups of $$. For example, we are on the Bed Bath & Beyond and BuyBuy Baby mailing lists and receive coupons all the time (BuyBuy will accept Bed Bath coupons). We took a 20% off coupon in with us to purchase our travel system and knocked 20% off of the $399 price tag. BIG help! 
• Bouncy Seat - this miracle allowed me to take a shower and cook food (even if I couldn't enjoy it while it was warm). By putting Sam in the bouncy seat in the bathroom or kitchen with me, I was able to do what I needed to and still keep the Toot happy for a short amount of time - at least enough to wash my hair or throw together a sandwich.
• Backseat Mirror - SERIOUSLY. This thing has made a huge difference in our car rides! Sam being able to see us via his mirror/my rearview mirror has made a world of difference. We have much fewer meltdowns now. It's my hero. 

• A Bottle Warmer - you can use a pot of water; we did for the first 3 months. And it works. BUT we  recently bought Dr. Brown's Deluxe Electric Bottle Warmer, and we have loved it. I did my research and it had the best reviews. It doesn't get yucky buildup, it can be used to sterilize, and you can the timer stays where you put it (not something all do). Our bottles now go from fridge to ready-for-Sam in 4 minutes. Thank you, Jesus!

• A Carrying System - I thank God often for my Moby wrap. After three weeks of literally losing my mind because Sam did not want to be put down at all, and our house becoming a war zone, and not being able even to eat somedays, I finally invested in a Moby. Possibly the best thing I've done since having Sam. The wrap allowed me to be able to do some chores (laundry, vacuuming, dishes) while still keeping Sam against me and calm. It took some adjusting - at first I would put him in it and then have to take him right back out because he would smell me and want to nurse - but we got the hang of it fairly quickly. And the Baby Bjorn that a friend lent us has been a huge blessing in our ventures in public. Sam hates being kept in his carseat, so the Bjorn has allowed us peaceful shopping trips, etc., where we didn't have them before. *I will add that the Moby, in particular, can get a little warm. For a while there (since it was still so hot outside until November), I would wear it around the house in a cami, with Sam only in a diaper.

• Having a Cradle in Our Room - Not having to get up and go across the apartment every time the baby made noise was a huge help. Having him so close also meant that I became very in tune with him very quickly. It also meant that he didn't have to get worked up waiting for us to get to him, and he went back to sleep more quickly. We didn't move him to his nursery until 8 weeks.
• Bath Support - We tried bathing Sammy in the sink, and it did work, but the bathtub was easier -- especially after we bought our Angelcare Bath Support for him and a knee pad for me! Now Sammy and Mommy enjoy bathtime, and I don't hurt or worry about him getting water stuck in his ears.

• Cool Mist Humidifier - this has been a tremendous help in Sam's breathing. When he was somewhere between 2 and 4 weeks old, he started to get horribly congested, especially at night, and it was scary. I called the doctor and this was one of her recommendations. The congestetion lasted a little over a month, but now he sounds fine at night. 

Things We Wish We'd Done Differently:

• Ask Your Family to Stay With You - you will kick yourself (I promise) if you don't. We didn't. And our first night was ROUGH. Now, mind you, we had a home birth, so we missed out on the help you get in the hospital the first few nights. If you are planning your birth this way, it won't be as big an adjustment. If, however, you are planning to use a midwife and will be going home that same day, GET HELP. I couldn't get out of bed, and David had no clue what he was doing, and it wasn't until 4:30am the next morning (nearly 48 hours without sleep) that we figured out that Sam would only stay asleep if I kept him on top of me (something else to keep in mind). Now, this makes total sense in hindsight. It was a big "duh" moment then! But if you have a parent with you, you might think of it sooner and save yourself some tears. 
• Sleep When Your Baby Sleeps - !!! I did not. I tried to get things done and spend time with my hubby. I went against every mom's advice. It is nearly impossible to fight these urges. But. You. Need. To. Again, you will save yourself tears. In the first 5 days of Sammy's life, I got about 10 hours of sleep. Please learn from my mistake. 
• Just Say NO - to company. Really. If you are overwhelmed, tell well-wishers "not right now" and then give them options for when you are up for visitors. Everyone wanted to visit us in the first week - and they were always bunched together. We had several days where we would have 2-3 visitors or groups of visitors (!) all in one day and it was overwhelming. They meant well, and we wanted to see them, but we should have made them spread out and let ourselves (and Sammy) rest more. 

  Most of all though, dear one, remember that you and your little one are individuals. What works for one mommy will not work for another. Take the advice you're given as that - advice. It's not a mandate, and you are not a failure (nor is your baby) if it doesn't work for you. 

  Example: Sam has, from day 1, hated sleeping on his back. If you put that baby on his back, he would wake himself right back up. Now, I am well aware that every doctor today will tell you that letting your infant sleep on his stomach is one of the worst things you can do. However, "they can drown in their vomit" was really the main reason I was given for this law. Sam was able to lift his head at birth, though, could easily turn his head, and I had already read research that stated that babies sleeping on their backs is the cause of so many infants now needing to wear helmets (because the pressure flattens their heads, which can cause brain damage). So I made an informed decision - to let him sleep on his stomach - that was appropriate for us. 

  One of the most helpful pieces of advice I have received came from my homegroup leader, Amber. She told me about a week after Sam was born that (verbatim) God gave Sam to me because He knew that I was the best mommy for him, that I would raise him the way God wanted him to be raised, and because my instincts for him would be best. The same is absolutely true for you. Remember when you're overwhelmed and tired and weeping (because the hormones just won't let you stop crying sometimes) that God gave you your baby - not someone else - because you know what is best for him or her...whether you always feel like it or not.

Pinteresting!

This week, I have finally found a little time to do some of the ideas I've seen on Pinterest! After trying the coconut oil on the hair trick (which worked fabulously!), I decided to try a recipe for what promised to be "just like Cinnabon" cinnamon rolls. So I gathered all the ingredients - I only had to go to the store for yeast - and set to work Saturday night. Here are the instructions - with my revisions and hints.

Ingredients:

1 cup warm milk 

2 eggs, room temperature

1/3 cup butter, melted 

4 1/2 cups bread flour or regular flour (bread flour makes for a lighter cinnamon roll)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup white sugar

1 pkg yeast (1/4 ounce) 

Filling:

1 cup brown sugar, packed

2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/3 cup butter, softened 

Icing:

3 oz cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt (I never use salt in my recipes though)

First, microwave the milk for 45-60 seconds in the microwave. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix well. Knead dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. Put it in a bowl sprayed with cooking spray and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. 

Next, in a small bowl, thoroughly combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Spray a flat surface with cooking spray or sprinkle flour on it. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread the dough with 1/3 cup softened butter and sprinkle evenly with the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up the dough, starting with the longer side, and cut into 12 rolls (or more smaller rolls). Place the rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch glass baking dish. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. After this, put them in the refrigerator for the next morning if you are doing them the night before (which I recommend). 

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the rolls until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. While the rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on while they are still warm so that the frosting melts into the roll. 

A few tips:

I thought I could outsmart the instructions and put the dough in a Tupperware bowl with the lid on instead of a bowl with plastic wrap. Little hint: The lid will pop off. Also, I tried to cheat a little and left the dough a little thinner and shorter than the recipe called for - this made the rolls a little too thick and not as enjoyable. The last thing I recommend is doubling the frosting. I used what the recipe called for here and it was a little scant for my taste. (This might be improved, however, if you simply roll the dough out correctly.)

All in all: they were still a success! I can't wait to make them again (in a little while - the prep time is about 2 hours and 15 minutes including the time waiting for the dough to rise) and improve them!

My Husband, the Romantic

  Sometimes my husband can be the sweetest, most thoughtful man. He thanked me all through my pregnancy for "growing his baby." He told me frequently that he appreciated how little the pregnancy seemed to have affected me - that I was very reasonable and not demanding.
  He thanked me after I had Sam for how "awesome" I was in labor. He told me I was "his hero". And he tells me on our especially difficult days with our son that I am "a rockstar."
  He tells me daily how pretty I am, how much he loves me, how thankful he is that he married me.

  My husband can be a very sweet man. He can also be a horse's patoot. Here is an actual conversation we had the other night:
David: Have you given up on plucking your eyebrows, then?
Emily: What?? I just plucked them last night!
David: You did? Did Sammy leave behind a lot of testosterone?
Emily: ...?!?!
David: Wait! I mean - I - ... Can I come back from this?

  He has such a way with words.

The Year in Review

  What a year 2012 was for our little family. After ending 2011 with a few tears for our uncertain future because we weren't supposed to be able to get pregnant on our own, we received the thrill of a lifetime. The morning of Saturday, January 21st, David and I found out we would become a family of three!
  Telling our family and friends was amazing - the outpouring of excitement and those who truly shared our joy was a tremendous blessing.

  2012 also saw us developing relationships new and old. Getting to spend time with new friends (like the Elliots and Bakers) and getting to watch some of our favorite singles get married (like the Pascales and the Stewarts) made the year such a fun adventure! We laughed, we danced, we ate good barbecue, we saw midnight screenings.

  We were also overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and help when I was put on bed rest (several times) and since having Sam. Our sweet, sweet friends have brought food and puzzles and spent time with me or let me nap when I thought I was losing my sanity.

  2012 also saw us move (a couple feet) away from our small, third-floor, one-bedroom to the pretty two-bedroom where our Sammy was born. It's crazy how what we had in our tiny apartment filled up the new one! And I stopped working at the office and became a professional housewife! The few days that I've had the energy, I've absolutely adored it. I even bought an apron!

  But mostly, 2012 just saw Emily grow! 

  And then, one week after the above picture was taken, arriving on his due date (like no other baby would), Sammy made his arrival. And we were immediately and irrevocably, forever in love. 

  2012 was a tremendous year for us, the biggest and best we've ever had. I can't imagine how 2013 will be able to top it - except that I know we now will have our hands full with our little Adventure. For those of you who shared in our last year, we are thankful for and blessed by you; and we cannot wait to see what this new year has in store for all of us.