Two weeks ago we got a chance to see our little baby in a sonagram and found out that it's probably a girl... based on that I'm naming her "Blossom" for the blog (her real name is much prettier:-)). I offered to help a pregnancy center train their staff to look at sonograms so we got a sonogram that was an hour long and lots of cool pictures of her toes, hands, face, and etc... it was so much fun!
Everytime I am pregnant it bothers me even more that people can take abortion so lightly in our culture. The technicians that were working with me told me that there is a 80% likelihood that a mother (who already decided to have an abortion) will decide to not have an abortion when they see a sonogram of their child. They told me that most mothers actually believe it's just a "blob growing inside them" until the end when the baby comes out. When they see the face and fingers and toes in the sonogram they finally realize it's a child inside of them.
How can people think that???? Yes, I was raised in a pro-life home and homeschooled and I suppose that may have something to do with it but how can our schools and surroundings indoctrinate us so much that we don't realize that at 16 weeks our babies have had fingerprints for weeks, have toes and hands, and already show a bit of their own personality. Our baby was so sweet, she was curling up and twisting around and covering her face like she was trying to get comfortable. I can already feel her kick Buddy when he's on my lap and "squishing" her too much. I can see that she has a different personality from our son in the way she moves around - he was kicking and swimming and going to town during his sonogram and she was much more laid back but just looked like she was snuggling to get comfortable. Blossom is a baby that for now just needs some more time to grow inside of me... I cannot fathom how anyone when faced with the truth can feel otherwise about their child.
"Freedom of Choice" is such a foolish phrase to use for it, and I can't understand how our culture can support it.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Conflict
With my new pregnancy (I'm now 18 weeks along) I have found so many added conflicts of interest. Just when I felt that I had my life semi-balanced between work and son and husband and home I got pregnant and intensly sick. Not as sick as last time, thankfully, but still sick enough to throw the balance way off kilter again.
I suppose that I'm probably a perfectionist but I feel like my pregnancies throw me way beyond just "not being perfect". When I wake up to my son crying in the morning and know he has to wait 15 minutes because I can't move and when we go through weeks of packaged pre-made food and no healthy home made meals it's hard for me to feel like I'm good enough. I know that God is probably using this to teach me patience and to not expect so much out of myself and I'm attempting to learn it. I just thought I got the chance to try to learn it last time but I guess I needed a refresher course.:-)
I was telling my husband the other day that I don't understand why people talk about the "pregnancy glow" and loving the feeling of being pregnant because to me it's worth it because of the baby coming (and baby kicks are fun too:-)) - but not at all because of the "glow"/emotions/etc... His reply was that it's probably just because *my* pregnancies are so rough.:-) Most days, my 14 month old son seems to understand my lack of energy and adjusts himself accordingly, but sometimes it frustrates me even more because he's frustrated that I can't play with him or help him and I know he doesn't understand what's happening at all. In retrospect though, I think I take it to heart more than he does.:-)
Now that I'm further along I seem to get a clear afternoon break of not being too sick where I can do a little more but that can be frustrating in itself because if I do too much I'm back to the couch and bathroom for a few days and it never feels like I can get enough done. I suppose that lesson is really what life is all about though, what we can do never is enough.
And so I close up this post, send up another prayer, and smile at myself. I'm just glad that I'm not supposed to be able to do everything on my own... and I need to realize that this is just life.:-)
I suppose that I'm probably a perfectionist but I feel like my pregnancies throw me way beyond just "not being perfect". When I wake up to my son crying in the morning and know he has to wait 15 minutes because I can't move and when we go through weeks of packaged pre-made food and no healthy home made meals it's hard for me to feel like I'm good enough. I know that God is probably using this to teach me patience and to not expect so much out of myself and I'm attempting to learn it. I just thought I got the chance to try to learn it last time but I guess I needed a refresher course.:-)
I was telling my husband the other day that I don't understand why people talk about the "pregnancy glow" and loving the feeling of being pregnant because to me it's worth it because of the baby coming (and baby kicks are fun too:-)) - but not at all because of the "glow"/emotions/etc... His reply was that it's probably just because *my* pregnancies are so rough.:-) Most days, my 14 month old son seems to understand my lack of energy and adjusts himself accordingly, but sometimes it frustrates me even more because he's frustrated that I can't play with him or help him and I know he doesn't understand what's happening at all. In retrospect though, I think I take it to heart more than he does.:-)
Now that I'm further along I seem to get a clear afternoon break of not being too sick where I can do a little more but that can be frustrating in itself because if I do too much I'm back to the couch and bathroom for a few days and it never feels like I can get enough done. I suppose that lesson is really what life is all about though, what we can do never is enough.
And so I close up this post, send up another prayer, and smile at myself. I'm just glad that I'm not supposed to be able to do everything on my own... and I need to realize that this is just life.:-)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Crustless Quiche
I pulled out a steak to defrost today and checked it around 4:30pm and it was still frozen. Plan B - search the fridge and find eggs, cheese, cream... crackers in the pantry... hmmm... crustless quiche!
I discovered a way to make crustless quiche on the internet last Summer when I had oodles of frozen spinach (note to self, *never* buy frozen spinach again - it is not the same as fresh!) and have been making a million variations since. I usually do it without a crust but tonight I didn't have much to add to the quiche so I decided to make a cracker/butter crust on the bottom, and added rosemary, cayenne, chedder cheese, and cream.
Basics
1 greased (or spam sprayed) pie pan
7-9 eggs
1/2-1 cup cheese (I like sharp chedder but you can use almost any kind)
1/2 cup Cream or Milk
Add-ins (pick 1-3 of anything below)
1/2-1 cup Cooked and finely chopped broccoli
1/21 cup Cooked and finely chopped asperugus
1/2-1 cup Fresh spinach (or frozen but fresh tastes better)
1/2-1 cup small cubes of bread (wheat, potatoe, white, french - whatever)
1/2-1 cup diced tomatoes or salsa
1/2 - 1 cup cooked bacon, ham or sausage (leftovers work great for this)
1/4-1/2 cup cooked mushrooms, cooked cubed potatoes or cooked onions
Spices - Cayenne, pepper, thyme, rosemary, or whatever else you can think of...
... the list is really endless.
Steps
1. Preheat the oven to 350 and butter or grease your pie pan
2. Crack your eggs into a bowl and beat well
3. Add cream/milk and 1/2 of cheese you are using - beat well
4. Add whatever other ingredients you want and mix into the egg mixture
5.
a. - if you want a cracker crust.... crush crackers by hand and mix with 1-2 Tablespoons butter, put on bottom of pie pan.
b. - if you want it "frittata style" put leftover cooked potatoes (best if they are mixed with cooked onions) in the pie pan.
c. - or just leave it alone
6. Pour egg mixture into pie pan and cover with remaining cheese.
Put in oven at 350 and cook for 20 minutes and check to see if done ( you can check by inserting a fork in the middle and seeing if it comes out clean or by wiggling the pan and seeing if the middle moves)..
I discovered a way to make crustless quiche on the internet last Summer when I had oodles of frozen spinach (note to self, *never* buy frozen spinach again - it is not the same as fresh!) and have been making a million variations since. I usually do it without a crust but tonight I didn't have much to add to the quiche so I decided to make a cracker/butter crust on the bottom, and added rosemary, cayenne, chedder cheese, and cream.
Basics
1 greased (or spam sprayed) pie pan
7-9 eggs
1/2-1 cup cheese (I like sharp chedder but you can use almost any kind)
1/2 cup Cream or Milk
Add-ins (pick 1-3 of anything below)
1/2-1 cup Cooked and finely chopped broccoli
1/21 cup Cooked and finely chopped asperugus
1/2-1 cup Fresh spinach (or frozen but fresh tastes better)
1/2-1 cup small cubes of bread (wheat, potatoe, white, french - whatever)
1/2-1 cup diced tomatoes or salsa
1/2 - 1 cup cooked bacon, ham or sausage (leftovers work great for this)
1/4-1/2 cup cooked mushrooms, cooked cubed potatoes or cooked onions
Spices - Cayenne, pepper, thyme, rosemary, or whatever else you can think of...
... the list is really endless.
Steps
1. Preheat the oven to 350 and butter or grease your pie pan
2. Crack your eggs into a bowl and beat well
3. Add cream/milk and 1/2 of cheese you are using - beat well
4. Add whatever other ingredients you want and mix into the egg mixture
5.
a. - if you want a cracker crust.... crush crackers by hand and mix with 1-2 Tablespoons butter, put on bottom of pie pan.
b. - if you want it "frittata style" put leftover cooked potatoes (best if they are mixed with cooked onions) in the pie pan.
c. - or just leave it alone
6. Pour egg mixture into pie pan and cover with remaining cheese.
Put in oven at 350 and cook for 20 minutes and check to see if done ( you can check by inserting a fork in the middle and seeing if it comes out clean or by wiggling the pan and seeing if the middle moves)..
Friday, February 25, 2011
A Father's Pride
One of the many characteristics of my husbands' relationship with our son that I adore is his pride in our little boy. Buddy is 10 months old now and I was reminded today how proud my husband is of our son and how fun it is to watch.
- Every time we get around people we know that haven't seen Buddy in a while, Daddy wants to carry him into the house/place/room. Don't get me wrong, he always loves holding his son, but he makes a special point to when there is someone new to meet his "little boy".
- Buddy's just a baby but you should see Daddy's eyes beam when he talks about him.
- When Buddy learns something new, Daddy is the first to share it with others - and he always wants to know whatever new thing Buddy has figured out each day. I'm sure the rest of the world is sick of hearing about it from us.
- When we are both in the room, Daddy is usually the first to realize that Buddy is doing something new or purposefully.
The beauty of my husband's relationship with our son is that even though he is ridiculously proud of Buddy, and loves to make him happy - Buddy knows that "Daddy means business" when Daddy says "No" - even more than Mommy. When Daddy says "No." Buddy jumps back, checks his hands (to make sure he stopped touching the forbidden object), finds Daddy's eyes, opens his hands (to show they are empty) and lights up his whole face with a smile for Daddy. I love it.
Their relationship reminds me of how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how we should respond to His training and discipline immediately but knowing that we are loved with an everlasting love - and just bask in the sunshine of His face. I believe that God treasures us as His own when we are washed white as snow and wants to show us to the world - "This is my beloved Son"... as He said of Christ - and I believe that as He sees us spotless (in Christ) He wants to say the same of us - "This is my beloved daughter"... and it makes me want to work all the harder to please my Heavenly Father.
- Every time we get around people we know that haven't seen Buddy in a while, Daddy wants to carry him into the house/place/room. Don't get me wrong, he always loves holding his son, but he makes a special point to when there is someone new to meet his "little boy".
- Buddy's just a baby but you should see Daddy's eyes beam when he talks about him.
- When Buddy learns something new, Daddy is the first to share it with others - and he always wants to know whatever new thing Buddy has figured out each day. I'm sure the rest of the world is sick of hearing about it from us.
- When we are both in the room, Daddy is usually the first to realize that Buddy is doing something new or purposefully.
The beauty of my husband's relationship with our son is that even though he is ridiculously proud of Buddy, and loves to make him happy - Buddy knows that "Daddy means business" when Daddy says "No" - even more than Mommy. When Daddy says "No." Buddy jumps back, checks his hands (to make sure he stopped touching the forbidden object), finds Daddy's eyes, opens his hands (to show they are empty) and lights up his whole face with a smile for Daddy. I love it.
Their relationship reminds me of how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how we should respond to His training and discipline immediately but knowing that we are loved with an everlasting love - and just bask in the sunshine of His face. I believe that God treasures us as His own when we are washed white as snow and wants to show us to the world - "This is my beloved Son"... as He said of Christ - and I believe that as He sees us spotless (in Christ) He wants to say the same of us - "This is my beloved daughter"... and it makes me want to work all the harder to please my Heavenly Father.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Buddy's Favorite Banana Bread
I won a first place ribbon at the county fair for my banana bread when I was eleven years old. This new recipe I found is *much* better. Buddy gave it two marks of approval when I gave him it for a snack today. He wiggled back and forth *and* went "Mmmmmmm". He polished off 3 pieces of it in 20 minutes. And no, he does not do that for "smashed peas and carrots".
Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350
Grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan or 1 1/2 inch muffin cups
Combine in a large bowl:
2 c Flour
1 1/2 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1/2 t Salt
1/2 t Cinnamon
1/4 t Nutmeg
These are your "Dry Ingredients"
Combine in a separate medium bowl
2 Eggs, beaten
5 Bananas, mashed (I like to use them right after they turn brown, when they are super squishy)
3/4 c Sugar
1/2 c Vegetable Oil or melted Butter
1/4 t Vanilla
These are your "Wet ingredients"
- Mix the wet ingredients well and then add them all at once to the dry ingredients.
- Stir just until you get all the flour pockets out.
- Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes for a 9x5x3 inch pan or for 15-20 minutes for muffin cups. You can check it by inserting a toothpick or fork in the center and seeing if it comes out clean.
- When cooked, cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove it from the pan and let cool completely before slicing (if in the bread pan).
Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350
Grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan or 1 1/2 inch muffin cups
Combine in a large bowl:
2 c Flour
1 1/2 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1/2 t Salt
1/2 t Cinnamon
1/4 t Nutmeg
These are your "Dry Ingredients"
Combine in a separate medium bowl
2 Eggs, beaten
5 Bananas, mashed (I like to use them right after they turn brown, when they are super squishy)
3/4 c Sugar
1/2 c Vegetable Oil or melted Butter
1/4 t Vanilla
These are your "Wet ingredients"
- Mix the wet ingredients well and then add them all at once to the dry ingredients.
- Stir just until you get all the flour pockets out.
- Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes for a 9x5x3 inch pan or for 15-20 minutes for muffin cups. You can check it by inserting a toothpick or fork in the center and seeing if it comes out clean.
- When cooked, cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove it from the pan and let cool completely before slicing (if in the bread pan).
A day in the life...
Hello all.
In today's world all mothers have to juggle a multitude of tasks at once. My own version of multitasking is running a load of laundry, sorting the bills, and having a telephone conversation explaining the benefits of a software program to a potential customer as my son tries to climb over the barricade set up on the other side of the room.
My son is ten months old. The barricade is not meant for climbing.
I press "mute" on my phone and clear my throat.
"Buddy - no."
Buddy jumps and turns around to see my face. He deliberates. I glare. He moves away. I press the mute button again and answer the question.
"Yes, you set up route sheets..."
I am a wife and a mommy and an employee - all at the same time! Unlike most working mothers, I work from home while I watch my 10 month old curiously explore/climb/trash/play in our house. I have done this since he was 4 weeks old so despite the example above he's actually very good at playing on his own between our play times and his naps.
My job is commission based with lots of sales calls so it gets interesting when (my son) Buddy's on the other side of the room trying to climb over barricades I put in front of the T.V. while I am stuck on a corded phone in the middle of a demo call.:-)
Long before I was married or even thought of having a kid I took a writing course and wanted to see if I could get published. I ended up quitting the course when I got engaged because life filled up so quickly and then it just got busier from there. I was offered to start the course again a few weeks ago and I decided to try a blog instead. Blogs, after all, are much cheaper. I am writing this blog to share my thoughts on balancing life, create ideas that stretch my horizons, and generally have a good time. Welcome to my life - the Mommy at Work.
In today's world all mothers have to juggle a multitude of tasks at once. My own version of multitasking is running a load of laundry, sorting the bills, and having a telephone conversation explaining the benefits of a software program to a potential customer as my son tries to climb over the barricade set up on the other side of the room.
My son is ten months old. The barricade is not meant for climbing.
I press "mute" on my phone and clear my throat.
"Buddy - no."
Buddy jumps and turns around to see my face. He deliberates. I glare. He moves away. I press the mute button again and answer the question.
"Yes, you set up route sheets..."
I am a wife and a mommy and an employee - all at the same time! Unlike most working mothers, I work from home while I watch my 10 month old curiously explore/climb/trash/play in our house. I have done this since he was 4 weeks old so despite the example above he's actually very good at playing on his own between our play times and his naps.
My job is commission based with lots of sales calls so it gets interesting when (my son) Buddy's on the other side of the room trying to climb over barricades I put in front of the T.V. while I am stuck on a corded phone in the middle of a demo call.:-)
Long before I was married or even thought of having a kid I took a writing course and wanted to see if I could get published. I ended up quitting the course when I got engaged because life filled up so quickly and then it just got busier from there. I was offered to start the course again a few weeks ago and I decided to try a blog instead. Blogs, after all, are much cheaper. I am writing this blog to share my thoughts on balancing life, create ideas that stretch my horizons, and generally have a good time. Welcome to my life - the Mommy at Work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)