:)

I got to take a nap with Levi today. Ah, the little things. :)

40 weeks...and counting

According to me and my timing, today is my due date for Baby Hullah. The other due date is the 9th, Sunday. Regardless, I definately expected this baby by now. I've also been having my appointments with the midwives on Thursdays. Last week I was so encouraged and already dilated at 4cm. This week, 4cm and discouraged. I was crying so hard on my way home that I had to stop in a parking lot to take time to call Brett, cry more, and eventually calm down. I still cried several more times today and felt depressed.

In spite of my disappointment and lack of patience, I realize these sweet truths: the baby is fine and doing well, and so am I (just no contractions yet); God's timing is the best; this is more time to give my attention to Luke and Brett. Sweet truths.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens. Your faithfulness to the skies.
-Psalm 36:5

3rd trimester

Just took a minute to upload a pic of the bump. Third trimester, here I come!

A craving

I'm about 13 weeks along, and I have not had a craving for anything in weeks. Tonight, I decided to actually try and plan some meals again. The first thing on my list...Emily's White Chicken Chili from the Cru Chili Cookoff '09. :) I need to actually print the recipe because I've made it several times, but always go to Amber's blog to find it. Thank goodness for the internet. ;) Amber's post recommends Fritos as a garnish. So, while I'm not making the chili until tomorrow, my sweet hubby is on his way to Safeway right now to buy me a bag of Fritos so I can start munching on them tonight! I'm really looking forward to my salty snack. The little things. :)

Papa

I mentioned grandpa. Luke started saying "Papa".

Actually, he usually whispers it.

My parents came to visit for a couple days, then traveled around Arizona & Utah, and then stopped in Greeley for a couple more days before returning to good ole C.B.

It was sweet to see Luke enjoying his grandpa. Even now, after they are back in the midwest, Luke still asks for "Papa." He's attached. ;)

The Sense of...

...smell is a wonderful thing.

It's Saturday. We slept in today. It was WONDERFUL! I wanted to go out to breakfast, but it was definately a want and not realistic for the budget. So I pulled out the good ole Pancake Factory.

The what?, you ask.

The Pancake Factory. I bought it from the clearance section in Walmart while I was in college. It's one of those random kitchen appliances that practical people never buy. However, it makes perfect pancakes! So this morning, I started with mixing up some batter, but before I poured the batter into the Pancake Factory, I grabbed some blueberries from the fridge. Then I poured, adding a BUNCH of blueberries to each perfect pancake. What a sweet and pleasant aroma for this beautiful, lazy morning (they sure tasted great too).

Now a new aroma is lingering in the house. Not long after we had finished our breakfast, I started on dinner. :) Slow-cooker french dip sandwiches. The roast has been in the cooker for a few hours now, so the home-cookin' aroma of this meat in beef broth with onion soup mix is beginning fill the house. It had just hit me in the living room minutes before I started this blog post. I'm really looking forward to dinner. :)

I'm thankful for the sense of smell, for God's provision, and for my family.

Trying new things

I'm a learner. And a human.

All that to say, I need food, and I enjoy learning and trying new recipes. Recently a photography/Photoshop blog I subscribe to shared a recipe from another blog (random, I know) for Coffee Crusted Steak. I was naturally curious because this recipe was considered worthy enough to mention on a photography/Photoshop blog (not for it's pictures...for the actual recipe!). Also naturally, I never thought I'd make it because of the coffee ingredient. My hubby does not like coffee. He doesn't like anything about coffee...the taste, the smell, how the smell stays with him after he HAD to go to a coffee shop for some form of a meeting...he does not like coffee. Anyway, the next day, a student I used to work with at Johnson & Wales University (a culinary school) mentioned something on her facebook status about coffee crusted steak. I took it as a sign. ;)

So, tonight, I made it. It's not a new favorite, but it was fun to make and photgraph. Here are some pics:

I have a feeling a flavored coffee, like hazelnut would help, so maybe someday I'll try it again. And in case you were wondering what my hubby thought of it...well, you are just going to have to wait. He wasn't home for dinner tonight, so he'll be trying it later. I'll keep you updated though. ;)

Thanks

Lord, thank you for stovetop popcorn and time with my hubby.

A good day

Thank You Lord for this day.

Thank You for the coolness of fall.

Thank You for an awesome chiropractic appointment.

Thank You for the time and ability to get some housework done.

Thank You for time on campus and fun conversations.

Thank You for a delicious dinner.

Thank You for quality time with Brett and Luke.

Thank You for bringing my parents together and for their anniversary.

Thank You for this day.

Thank You.