Rain rain go away come again in the fall! Seriously, it feels like it’s october today. I have a garden on the side of my house with 6 very large tomato plants covered with full sized GREEN tomatoes…. the sun needs to come out and it needs to be hot so that they will ripen properly! I am beyond disapointed with this years harvest so far. Maybe I’ll get some practice making fried green tomatoes… ? 
July 24, 2009
rain rain rain rain rain
July 23, 2009
new shoes please
I need new running sneakers. Seriously…. like the kind that a person actually wears to run in. I’ve taken up running, ok, ok, it’s more like jogging. It’s enough of a jog that makes me sweat (like yucky drippy sweat) and makes my heart beat wildly. I LOVE it. This morning after Rich got back from his run (jog) I went out and did my own loop. I noticed three things while outside at an hour that I much prefer to still be in bed at. 1. I wasn’t in any pain running at all. In fact, my body is fairly strong, but I was getting tired. I’m not used to running and I’m trying to ease my way back in to it after taking a 5 year break (!). 2. My body definitely was still jiggly while running, but it didn’t bother me as much as it did a few weeks ago. I’m not sure why – but I’m hoping it will subside soon because I’m working so hard! 3. Fellow morning runners/joggers are rather friendly. They all said good morning to me when we crossed paths. I thought that was pretty cool.
July 18, 2009
Forever Friends
Happy Birthday to my sweet friend Kelly! I have known Kelly for about 15/16 years now and I treasure my friendship with her. She has become an awesome wife and mom in recent years, and though distance separates us, I still hold her close to my heart. Happy Birthday my friend!
July 18, 2009
So far…
today I have walked 4.3 miles (or whatever the loop is at Ridley Creek), cleaned the bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, made lunch, cleaned up after lunch, worked with Rich to clear the toy room so that the carpet can be ripped up and new flooring put down, and then worked again with Rich to re-set up the dining room with the furniture that had been in the toy room. It’s now close to 2:00 and I’m very tired! I think I might close my eyes and rest a bit on the couch that is now in my dining room… I kinda like it here (although I still have lots to do so I most likely won’t be napping). I enjoy moving furniture around and giving my house a new look. When the kids get up I’m going to “help” them clean their room up. It’s horrible in there. Absolutely dreadful and I cannot stand it anymore. I don’t even know how they can play in there – which is what they are doing instead of napping/resting. And then I’ll start dinner. We’ll have an early dinner tonight. I’m thinking around 5:00 would be good. Naan and some sort of Indian bean dish. Yay for trader joe’s convenience! Then after dinner is cleaned up it’s bath time and bed time for all 3 kids. Early going to bed nights are the best! I’m looking forward to sitting down later tonight with a cup of tea and reading a book… and then going to sleep. Ah, sweet sleep.
July 17, 2009
What’s for dinner?
Tonight’s delicious yet simple meal is the very basic Rice and Beans a la Jessica. MMMmmmm…. Rice and beans is such an easy meal to make and I have found ways to make it super yummy – even to my 3 and 5 year old!
Make rice: Boil 4 Cups of water (add 2 chicken or beef bouillon cubes for flavor while boiling) with 3 Tbs. of butter. After it comes to a boil add 2 Cups of rice. Return to a boil and then simmer for about 15-20 minutes with lid on. Always yummy! I have found that my kids devour rice if I cook it with the broth. Awesomeness.
When rice is done, saute chopped onion in olive oil. Add other veggies if you desire. Tonight I will add green summer squash, chopped kale, 1 diced cucumber(maybe), and 3 diced roma tomatoes…. and maybe a little frozen corn as well. I like to make my dish pretty with colors and flavors… plus, these are all the veggies that I have on hand right now that I don’t want to go bad. Oh and I have a bag of red beans (kind of like string beans – but they are red. Not sure how to eat them). I will then add 1 can of black or red beans. Whatever I have on hand. I season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin. I never measure, just kind of play and learn the flavors.
Spoon rice in bowl and top with bean and veggie mixture. Enjoy! This should take a total of 30 minutes to prepare and make. I think Rachael Ray would be proud. 
July 16, 2009
He did it!
Noah drank 6 oz. from a bottle tonight! There were no tears whatsoever…. it was absolutely amazing! The last time I tried to give my little slugger a bottle he screamed and cried because he just wanted to nurse. That was about 3 months ago. I remember Gracie drinking for the first time from a bottle without a problem when she was 8 months, so I figured I’d give it another try. I’m going to start weening him now and plan on being all bottle by the end of August. And it isn’t like milk is his only form of food. Noah is eating 3 meals a day plus 2 snacks. I often will finish up one main meal with nursing (today at dinner it was a bottle) and then will nurse before bed and sometimes when he wakes up. I’m kind of excited about him taking a bottle because I can already see the “freedom” awaiting me at the end of the tunnel so to speak. I will miss nursing though. I mean, Noah is most likely my last baby – although that isn’t a final decision, but most likely reality. I love nursing. I love the bonding that happens with it. The sweet closeness is just amazing. I feel like Noah and I have a really strong bond that is just so precious. I’m so thankful for my baby boy and I wouldn’t change anything about his life so far. He is pure joy. Anyway, enough about the bonding process…. I just really love my son and feel like I gave him a great start nutritionally in life by nursing him for 9 months. AND I’m really looking forward to this next step in my relationship with my boy….as well as fitting in to smaller clothes too!
July 15, 2009
A New Goal
So I recently learned that my brother in-law’s wedding is moved from July ‘10 to March ‘10…. I now have 8 months to get my body thin and trim. I have been walking a lot recently at night with a friend(s) and have been doing the firm again as well. I feel my body getting stronger, but not necessarily thinner… well, maybe slightly. But is it ever so slight! I’m going to stop nursing Noah this summer. My goal is to have him weaned by September. Rich is totally on board with the plan which is helpful since he will be having a part in the weaning process. I know my body, and i know that at least 10 pounds will melt off of my frame about 2-3 weeks after I’m done nursing. And then the rest that I want to lose will follow as well as I work out and eat well. Here’s hoping that I can wear a size 10 by March 20th, 2010!
Monday: walked 4 1/2 miles (or so) at Ridley Creek
Tuesday: did a 35 minute Firm workout (weight training, cardio, and aerobics)
Wednesday: Ran 1/4 mile around a track, and then walked about a mile and a half or so around the track
Thursday: I plan on doing a 60 minute Firm workout video (weights, cardio, and aerobics). I’m also hoping to get at least an hour of walking in at night
Friday: 35 minute Firm workout
Saturday: Walk at Ridley Creek
Sunday: Rest (or walk!) with the workouts that I like doing with The Firm, walking is like resting!
July 13, 2009
Summer Updates
Grace turned 5 last month! We went to the Please Touch Museum to celebrate followed by pizza and fun at Chucky- Cheeses. I can’t believe my girl is 5 already! She’s a sweetheart and always (well mostly) ready to lend a helping hand when I need her. She is enjoying the summer and loved going to the beach. She and her uncle Drew built a sand castle the whole time…awesomeness. She is gearing up for her first year of kindergarten in the fall and is super excited about riding on the school bus. I sure do love my big girl!
Becca is loving life – as usual. She still loves people and while I think it’s great that she’s so social, I’m working at getting her to be a bit more “selective” in who she decides needs one of her hugs. I’m thinking that the teenage boy on the board walk in Ocean City wasn’t too thrilled by her loving gesture. Oh well. Slow progress. Becca is in a bit of a rough phase right now. She’s struggling with her independance as well as obedience. We’ll get through this time just like we did with Grace, but until then – God help me and give me strength to love this strong willed girl. To end on a positve note, she is potty training finally. Woohoo. She’s loving it and it’s not being forced on her at all. Hopefully she’ll be completely trained by the time preschool starts in September. Yippie!
Noah is in such a sweet phase right now. Actually, so far his almost 9 months of life outside the womb have been pure joy. He is now learning how to get around without crawling. It’s quite humorous and very smart! I think the wood floors are too rough on his knees for crawling, so butt scooting will do the job. He is also eating lots and lots of different foods. I think pancakes are a favorite and pasta is up there too. I’m trying to get him to eat more table foods so that it will be cheaper on our budget. Thankfully he is ready to eat more so I don’t feel like I’m forcing it on him. He is finally starting to sleep 7-8 hour stretches again too! Thank you Jesus! He’s in his own room now which is helping tremendously. Last night I did not get up and go to him like I normally would and he cried himself back to sleep. He woke up very happy this morning so I don’t think he was traumatized which is a relief! I’m praying that he will not wake up at all tonight. I could really use a full night of sleep again. I sure do love my handsome boy!
Rich and I just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on July 12th! I love being married to this amazing man! He brings so much joy to my life and we just have so much fun together. He’s the love of my life and my best friend…. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
