Black and white

Oh that all things in life could be black as black and white as white!

Black and white from each of us:

Wilder's new kicks:
Daddy's hankie (he wears one in his back pocket every day):
My new $8 purse from Target (it'll be filthy in a week but it was only $8!):
The living room floor has officially been spring-initiated as it is now covered in sand and toppled over tennies from multiple trips to the park:
And after a morning of squirrel chasing and stick collecting, I am, yes, you guessed it, off to nap!

Peeps on cupcakes

I was in a cupcake mood, and have friends to share them with tonight..we had to go to Wal-Mart anyway, so I bought some Peeps and a strawberry cake mix.

Add a little imagination (and sugar), and you get festive Easter treats:

I've linked to this before, but check out the Whatever blog for the buttercream frosting recipe.

Mine melted a little~keep this in mind as the weather warms...you might want to add less milk so the frosting's not as runny. I was using a Wilton tip, trying to make designs, but one could never tell!
My kicking baby and I are off to try to get a 15-minute nap before W wakes...

Africa on his mind

W's got Africa on his mind. Well, his forehead anyway. Took his first faceplant in the driveway. He was supposed to get some of the cheesier Easter portraits done today, but that obviously fell through.

sorry about the gross hairbrush

Weekend:

~Much-needed mom's night out to include hot-tubbing (from the waste down for me)...it was so relaxing and the conversation encouraging
~Olive Garden to celebrate Papa's (Gpa) b-day; K-State game & DQ ice cream cake afterward
~El Salvadorian dinner and mini-massage with S and her family
~Broke out the heating pad for my back (oh.my.gosh.so.sore.people)

Today:

Shawn and Wilder feeling icky (again!), so we rest/do some yardwork

Here's another one of those precious iPhone pics Shawn took. That's the corner where I blog. The chair was 25 cents.
How'd you spend your weekend?

Cold tushy cheeks

Instincts: fascinating thing, really. Had a gumption to go into Wilder's room earlier than normal this morning. He was sound asleep on his belly, in the corner, tushy high in the air. BUT, no diaper. Just porcelain white, cool-to-the-touch hiney cheeks. Poor kid! He typically wears footed pjs but was in a two piece number. The diaper (barely wet), and britches were crumpled in a heap. When I picked him up he smelled like a nursing home so off to the bath we went.

And down to the basement went all his bedding.

Fortunately, my friend T was over for a playdate later in the morning and she made the second trip down to retrieve the laundry. Hoping we can call it even since I served breakfast:
I've got baby on the brain, pretty much constantly, and that translates to repeatedly perusing Wilder's baby pictures. Here we are almost exactly a year ago to the day:
The days are fleeting.

Easter egg hunt

The week has given us two beautiful days so far, one of which we spent hunting for eggs at Erika's! Erika is an amazing hostess and party planner, so much so that she's started party planning as a side job. So, if you need help with a party, I can get you connected!
Wilder was still a little young to fully grasp the concept of grabbing eggs so I did most of it for him...as well as I could with a big belly.
He lost interest fairly quickly and headed straight for the "pier":
Erika's daughter, Lillianah, is following in her mum's footsteps in that she's a great hostess, too. She took off Wilder's coat and laid it on her parent's bed. She's not even 3 yet! Isn't her tutu cute?
Here's the gang..some missing as it's impossible to get kiddie group shots. Aren't they all funny, doing their own thing? One's blowing up a balloon...I am thankful for beautiful weather. We were outside all morning/after nap yesterday. The sun really boosts my morale...how bout you?

Oreo treats--easy peasy!

So you're not tired of pregnancy updates? Oh, good.

Today isn't one, though. Too soon.

Thought it'd be nice to share a simple but scrumptious dessert recipe with ya (I've been craving it):

OREO DIRT CAKE!!! Let the heavens rejoice!

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups milk
1 5 1/4 oz. instant vanilla pudding mix (sometimes I have a hard time finding these exact ounces so I buy 2 little boxes but don't use all of the 2nd box...maybe 2/3?)
1 pkg. Oreos (um, I use 1 1/2 pkgs.)

Mix pudding with milk as directed on the box (I use whisk). Then add in the cream cheese and blend on low 1 minute. Add powdered sugar and Cool Whip and blend well. Crush Oreos in 9 x 13-inch pan, press in bottom. Pour filling in and sprinkle more Oreos over the top. Best to let it chill at least an hour before serving.
If you're feeling really creative, add in gummy worms just prior to serving (if you add them too long beforehand it will make the dish taste sugary-weird).

Or, serve it in miniature terracotta planting pots with a homemade flower (construction paper/popsicle sticks) stuck in--and a ribbon around the pot.

Ok, one final touch: buy the mini-Oreos and plant them as little "surprises" in the pudding mixture after you've spread it in the pan.

What dessert should I make next? As long as it's not lemon, nutty, or raisiney, I'm game.

Gonna pop?

Right, so, I have 10 weeks left til Eenie Meenie makes his/her debut (I'm 30 weeks), and if I'm being completely realistic, it'd probably be smart to count on it being longer than that (W was three days late--not bad!).

I am an optimistic person, normally. But under these circumstances, with a back whining at me regardless of the position I'm in, I'm freaking out just a little {at the time remaining/weight the baby will gain}.

I usually fair well during the day, but by the time the day nears its end, my body is beat.

It's all for a wonderful cause, though. :-)

If only there was some kind of brace like the halo, except it would go on my hips and come around to support my belly from below...(belly bands don't work for me--I need iron or metal).

Just a few notes:

The sugar craving is back in full force and I'm about to write Dillons or Dolly Madison over their inadequate supply of sweet rolls.

The baby is measuring normal, has heart rates in the 140s (Wilder's never that low), and seems to be skitter skatting across my belly...tap dancing...I've no idea what. It's not like there's a lot to do in there. Lots of activity though. I love it.

Found some great items at Target for the nursery. Now I'm getting excited!

Tell me if you get tired of pregnancy updates...
Wilder added "please" to his sign language repertoire, and uses it constantly. He's adding words to his vocab like a maniac, too. Shawn and I have started spelling "bath" "outside" "not eating" because he picks up on everything. We look at a baby book, hold a doll baby, and play in the nursery to prepare him for the wild ride ahead!

First day of Spring

Yesterday, we did this:
Today, our welcome mat looks like this, on the first day of spring:
Kansas, you are weird/get over yourself.

It's time...

to play outside!

photos courtesy of Shawn and his rad iPhone.

I'll take my potta gold anytime now.

Have a splendid St. Patrick's Day!

I forgot to wear green but no one's pinched me yet. My feelings are kinda hurt. Pinching is a sign of love. Or at least it was in junior high when I only first started flirting with boys.

Have you seen the cute split pea shamrock craft from here?

Will someone please make it then tell me how easy it was? Sewing is involved but it states skill level as "any." Still pretty intimidating for someone who's never sewed.

All images from here.

Own your choices

photo from here

I got to talk to someone new today, which is always a thrill for me.

She asked, "so, do you get to stay home with Wilder?" I said, "yes, I am lucky enough to get to do so. As long as we have a busy calendar and I am doing things to make myself a more complete person, we're good to go."

I responded to her questions about my education and work history. Then I stated that staying home has been a blessing in more ways I could've dreamed. And it has been. Aside from raising the coolest little dude in the Midwest, I've gotten to meet and know fascinating, wonderful people. And I'll reiterate that I've also gotten to know parts of my heart that would've otherwise been overshadowed if I was still working. Perhaps those parts wouldn't have eased their way out because I was finding fulfillment in my job.

But then I had to find fulfillment in a new way, in a way that didn't involve my giving input at meetings or being sought out for help in processing something or about meeting a deadline. I had to figure out how to reconstruct my life so that I could be the best person, wife, and mother I could possibly be, all outside the workforce, since we felt that's what was best for our family. The two things that keep me motivated and purposeful in parenting (besides the Lord) are a) social interaction b) blogging/writing. The netting that holds those together is, as you may have guessed: introspection.

I recently attended a workshop whereby life coach Cindy Tannehill helped us determine our passions and abilities in order to eventually channel them into a form of ministry. It may be difficult to devote myself to a defined ministry until my children are older, but I hunger, crave, very much thirst to continue to evaluate the attitudes of my heart...it's never a waste.

I will continue on the course toward healing. I will move past the point of thinking I am not good/holy enough to help people.

I don't have to be assigned to a specific post in order to make a difference.

Prayer leads to precious relationship with God and others, and it's the best way to learn about yourself and your passions. If it's been awhile since you've looked introspectively or thought about how you can best love humanity (our kids/partner/jobs/families/friendships/community), then here are some questions, aside from those you can ask in prayer, to get you thinking:

What experiences energize you the most?
What difference would you like to make?
What subjects do you lean into during conversation?
What would you do if you could not fail?
What do you want to "say" with your life?

It's never too soon to learn how you can be used well today. Right where you are. May you soar high and fully over each crag and ravine of your heart.

You ok with longspirited post?

Our weekend was the perfect blend of social, quiet, and tasks time. We had friends over for taco salad (I don't do fancy) last night, which worked out well because I was distracted from pouting about another week without Daddy around during the day--usually I do fairly well on Sunday nights, but every so often a tired thought will coax its way in.

Fortunately, I woke up on the right side of the bed today and went straight to Wilder's room to check out his bedhead. He is so reliably happy as we companion each other through the days. I'm lucky.

Sings of spring coupled with the vibrancy I behold in others holds my spirits aloft. I've been really encouraged by God and people. A little note from my friend living on the foreign soils of Germany... A discussion with L about our boys' education--public v. private--how will we ever figure that out? And how L knows that education is important, but above that, she just wants her boy to love Jesus...God's provision for some baby gear...

I've also made some time for extracurricular reading--The Shack. I've no two-cents worth to proffer--yet. I was hesitant to read it but in my goal to "expand my literary horizons" I want to expose myself to many types of authorship.

Next, Shawn and I have watched Valentine's Day and Up in the Air, and I have two-cents worth on those.

Valentine's Day: wait to rent it; we're learning that some of the more epic films deserve to be watched on the big screen...romantic comedies, not so much. But the eye candy..:-)

Up in the Air: I appreciated this movie on a million levels--the true-to-life corporate scenarios, the raw human emotion, the loneliness. But I shan't give anything away. In sum, it was a smart, amazing work of art. In viewing movies I find myself paying attention to lighting, set design, music, the angles of the camera. It's all so fascinating. And Up in the Air is magnificent on all those levels.

We worked a little on the nursery, and one wee corner is finished. We have many things left to do but most of them are of the decorative nature. I've decided the simpler, the better, and it's ok that I can't collect kitchy, vintage things overnight. The room has already become a gathering place; Wilder likes to play in the closet and Shawn and I like to sit on the rug at night and jabber. There's something about soft carpet that's so fancy for us wood-floor people.

The colors are a little girly but we'll be able to add some robots and dinosaurs (or something--an ant farm?) if it's a boy.
And here's my sweetheart during his first bath post-cast. Good grief, he's incredible.
Shawn, what were you doing on the computer last night? Self-portraits 101?

Shawn's got treasures on his phone

Shawn was recently scolded for hoarding a million wonderful videos and photos of Wilder on his iPhone, that I'd never seen...we watched videos of W late into the night last night.

Does it make us dorky that even after our kids goes to sleep, we still can't get enough of him?

Tidbits from our week

I don't have pictures from Monday, but it entailed a playdate with three other girlies, and friendship bread! My friend B has a silver cat named George and W terrorized him for a while. Except George is kindof ornery so I had to keep a close eye.

On my glorious, wonderful, amazing, much-appreciated day off Tuesday, whereby I got a "ohhhh wow" full body massage, and went to the OB, I managed to squeeze in a visit to my favorite booths at Legacy Antiques (cell phone snaps below). Why do I give myself chances to lust after things I don't need?

The lady who runs the booths is so brilliant I just might stop liking her.

Wilder's cast was kinda gross (dirty) when removed on Wednesday. He was so brave.

The saw thing they used to remove it isn't really a saw. It's just a round vibrating device. The doctor was sure to calm our worries there.

The cast was much dirtier than this picture shows. Shawn must have used some kind of editing treatment (iPhone picture); consider it a favor. W's skin is alligator-like...Shawn told me about the skin shedding process and how if one weighed his/her mattress at time of purchase then again 10 years later it will weigh more because dead skin sinks into it.

I about barfed.

Fire station tour with MeetUp on Thursday--the second one we've been to and way more fun than the first, because we got to go for a ride around the block in a firetruck. Wilder was a little unsure but was overall pretty beguiled.Riding shotgun!

Wilder is second from the left, walking out of the picture.

And today? MAPS--the keynote talked about the guilt we feel as mothers...my favorite part of breakfast: cinnamon rolls and berry tarts!

Yet another reason...

...why I can't wait to meet my son or daughter!

You've probably seen this video before and it's likely not as entertaining for you as it is for me (cuz it's my baby Wilder as a "fresh" infant!), but I'm posting it anyway.

What great things to look forward to.

Think on this.

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to have confidence.

If a child lives with praise, he learns appreciation.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world.

~Dorothy Law Nolte

Just something to think about.
p.s.--W's cast is off and we plan an eventful bath time complete with new toys!

Washed white

The rain is falling in torrents.
The earth's muddy smell invades my nostrils.
That smell, oh, that smell. It is life happening.
I welcome the rain, its tumbling, the drenching of nature.
The giving of drink to a world once in hibernation.

Soon, very soon, the buttercups
Will crack their way through the soil.
The grass will return greener than the spring prior,
The cottontail bunnies will emerge with their families,
To our chagrin, the moles aching for sandy dirt will also.

Spring spurs a desire for rebirth in myself.
As the waves of rain release from heaven,
I want them to pour through me, too.
I want them to wash away the selfish parts,
Bring new life to those desperate ones.

I seek the courage to sit and wait in it.
To close my eyes and let the water pour over me.
I may shiver, the rain may not fall gently,
But it would be worth it to be washed white.

Oh, to be washed white.

~mh

I'm thankful for the below scripture; it is perfect and beautiful for a rainy day and reminds me, yet again, how special rain is to me. It's Wilder's middle name (Raine), after all.

Isaiah 55:9-12a

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace.
~

Forever Young

Despite neither of us feeling well, we had a wonderful time at prom last night!

Hope to have our professional prom portrait posted soon.

Enjoy your Saturday! We slept til 11:15 this morning (super tired from catching a late movie). Gotta milk the child-free day...off to detail the house and shop.

Third trimester!

Me and my lazy eye

I made it, guys. I'm finally at the third trimester--28 weeks today! Twelve more weeks to go, which seems like an eternity, but when I think about how far I've come...3 months is just a penny in the pot. Or some witty phrase like that.

Not gonna lie, but I kinda wish I looked like this (pregnant with Wilder, 28 weeks):
But now I have the most beautiful, perfect, amazing accessory:
He adds a nice punch of color to my ensemble, don't you think?How I'm feeling:

May I just list what's going on? It is not to complain, only to have, er, a record.

~nausea ~heartburn ~super tired ~back pain ~pelvic pressure ~some "digestive" issues ~not finding a comfy position to sleep in (wow, what a short list. I am so lucky)

How the baby's doing:

~No red flags of any sort with the baby's health, which is all I can ask for. Glucose test is next week, so, pray I pass. After that visit, I will start going for checkups every 2 weeks. Excited about that!
~This baby is pretty quiet during the day, unless I'm sitting. As soon as I go to bed, it's party time!
~According to BabyCenter, he/she weighs about 2.25 lbs and is 14.8 in. long, head to heel.

Miscellaneous:

~I think it's a boy. It's really hard not to know the gender, but we'll know soon enough.
~We've no names solidified. When we do, we're not telling, because we like weird names.
~The nursery is slow going, but I have a color scheme (turquoise, orange, brown). Not what I had originally planned (wanted more organic neutrals) but there was just too much cute stuff at Babies R Us. I don't think we're going to paint, either. So I will hafto be ok with beige walls.
~The beautiful weather has improved my "morale"...we're going to start daily walks after our naps..until I can drag that wagon around no more.
Thanks for letting this post be all about baby and me...so glad I don't have to do my hair until the next pregnancy update.