Menu Plan Monday

We decided to get groceries for two weeks this weekend and I wanted to go ahead and have my menu plan done for the two weeks. I contemplated doing the grocery shopping or even doing a menu plan for longer, but I decided against it. We don't have a deep freeze and we just do not have the space for a month of groceries in our home. So....two weeks is about the longest our kitchen/fridge can hold. On a few of the meals towards the end of the 2 weeks I put "out" because I had run out of ideas and figured we'd eat out at least once or twice in the two week period... so the meals would shift accordingly...some meals might have more leftovers or whatever, so we'll see what we actually eat in the next two weeks!




Monday Dinner- Chicken salad sandwiches, fruit and chips

Tuesday Dinner- Roast and carrots in crock pot with mashed potatoes and rolls

Wednesday Dinner- Breakfast- Bubbie's choice! Sausage, eggs and biscuits

Thursday Dinner- Leftover roast

Friday Dinner- Crockpot Ravioli (which is a HUGE hit with the fam) with corn and french bread

Saturday Lunch-Soft Tacos- meat, black beans, rice and sour cream w/ chips
Saturday Dinner- Leftover Ravioli



Sunday Lunch- Cubed steak, rice and peas and leftover biscuits
Sunday Dinner- NO JTEAM- Going out of town for the day- Homemade pizza and breadsticks

Monday Dinner- Meat Loaf, potatoes, broccoli and peas with biscuits

Tuesday Dinner- Leftovers

Wednesday Dinner- Leftovers

Thursday Dinner- out

Friday Dinner- Spaghetti, salad and rolls

Saturday Lunch- out
Saturday Dinner- Leftovers


Baking for the next week: Monkey Munch, Blueberry muffins (blueberries were actually "cheap" enough for me to justify a yummy YUMMY batch of these. I also plan on doing another oh-so-yummy fruit salad for the week...it usually only lasts a day or two. I have a fresh pineapple, peaches, strawberries, grapes, apples and a cantaloupe! Yummy!!!

For more, visit Laura here.

Sickies, Date Night, Saturday Morning Finds and Hmmmm....

SICKIES

Peanut's virus only last 24 hrs. His fever broke at 7pm on Thursday, after he had spent a total of 8 hrs that day napping... obviously the sleeping helped him.

DATE NIGHT

Because Peanut was feeling better, Hubbie and I were still able to go on our planned date night. Nana and Pops kept the boys overnight on Friday night. Hubbie and I went to P.F. Changs and got our free lettuce wraps! Yum-O! We also munched on some yummy mongolian beef, egg rolls and 2 of their mini desserts! It was a wonderful dinner and just being able to sit, be served and have no clean up was so nice! The rest of the evening we just kind of piddled around. I had to work on some MOPS registrations, so by midnight Hubbie went to bed and I worked on those.

On Saturday morning, Hubbie had a race that he had registered to run, so no sleeping in for us. Since I knew that he was going to be up early and that we had to get the boys from Nana's semi-early, I decided to try to hit a few yard sales.

Saturday Morning Finds

I was able to get out around 7am and hit quite a few yard sales before anyone else. I wasn't too impressed with people's prices. No one was a great "yard sale find". I did find lots of things that were worth their sticker price. I think I spent a total of $75...which is probably the MOST I've ever spent on a Saturday morning going yard sale shopping, but I only got fantastic quality things. I even got two Bailey Brothers outfits for $15. Lots of clothes for Baby Bean... a few things for Peanut. I'm starting to realize that by the time boys get to 4T and 5T, people don't yard sale their clothes...... which is a bummer. I've about come to terms with the fact that I'm gonna have to be a smart shopper at stores for Bubbie's outfits- Target clearance racks, etc.- and then for the younger two I can still get good things at Goodwill, consignment stores and yard sales.

I got a few things for the kitchen- pans, measuring cups-very excited about those finds, a cute Pier One Kids basket for $5, a Halloween sign for $1 and a chair for $8.

Oh and look at the cute mobile I found for my lovely new neighbor Ashley.

It was only $5! I think this mobile probably sells for $15-20! Ok, scratch that...went and looked it up online...Surely not, but it is listed on Amazon for $118?! No way?! So, lots of goodies scored.... I didn't haggle much with people, since I was one of their first shoppers. It was so nice getting out that early and being done with shopping in about a hr. I probably could have stayed out for another hour or two. There were SO many yard sales this AM. I mean, SO MANY! Unfortunately, Hubbie was called last night to come in and work on a project, so I went and got the kids and he's off to work..... All-in-all, a good weekend so far.

HMMMM......

Rest of the weekend will involve lots of laundry, house cleaning for small groups, ironing and hopefully a trip to the grocery store. Besides that....just a normal weekend! I really dread weekends like this. I try to get most of the cleaning/laundry done BEFORE Saturday. The boys have been getting into everything lately and have been quite a handful!

What I Did....

Well, yes, I admitted it....I was very disappointed to have lost my "free" 4 hours. All turned out fine though. I did not take Peanut to the doc, because I kinda assumed he had a virus that its only symptom is a fever for a couple of days. His fever would go up a little and then go back down a little. He didn't want to play or eat or sometimes even drink....so we spent the morning together. Just me and my....no longer the youngest.....just me and my middle child! I let him cuddle with me. I didn't try to do anything else, because that would have been impossible. I had a shadow all day and if I did leave his sight, he'd fussy and cry. He even took a nap on the couch with me in the late morning. Peanut hasn't done that with me in probably 9 mos or maybe even a year.... I kept thinking...ya know...if he was at school...you wouldn't be having these precious moments with your cuddle bug! Who knows how much longer I can really call him my cuddle bug and once baby Bean comes along, who knows how much cuddling time I'll have for Peanut, so I enjoyed it, thanked God for this time and held him a little closer.

I'll still get that coveted free time to myself...may not be today or tomorrow or this month, but today- my precious littlest needs me!

Darn Me!

I was SO excited about me being able to have some free time today....4 hr wonderful hours alone....shopping and just enjoying being by myself.....well, I guess I shouldn't have been THAT excited! I knew this would happen, I just assumed it would happen NEXT week. Peanut is sick. He's not horribly sick, thankfully, but he had a temperature yesterday of 103.6. I gave him tylenol and put him to bed. He slept all night, but woke up really early and had a temp of 102.2. He isn't eating, which is VERY unlike himself. My child eats all day long, around the clock, even after he's eaten, he wants to try yours, so I know he doesn't feel good. Obviously I can't take him to summer "fun" school and I don't get my precious 4 hrs of alone time. Unless he magically gets better, I won't be able to have our long awaited date night tomorrow night or my fun morning of yard sales shopping by myself on Saturday morning....so yeah.....I'm bummed. Darn me for being bummed, but hey! I was excited about my week!

Not sure if I'll take Peanut to the doc or not. I know there is a virus going around with a high fever. My doc doesn't really get too concerned with fevers unless they are over 103 and since Peanut's fever is going down.....I'll just keep an eye on it. I'd say if he's not feeling better or if the fever is the same by tomorrow at lunch time, I will call and get him in. We have to pay more of a co-pay on the weekends, so I'd rather take him on Friday afternoon than Saturday afternoon.

Not Much...Pretty Boring Update

Not much to blog about and not much to say. I've started a couple of posts, but didn't have long to sit down and think....so they ended up becoming drafts that I will probably delete. So, here is for a little randomness on a Wednesday morning.

Bubbie started his summer "fun" school. Sounds like he had a good time playing. There was even a kid from MOPS in his class which I was thrilled about...ya know...new school..new kids...new teachers...Bubbie was very nervous on Monday night. Glad to know someone was familiar to him.

Peanut will be going to summer "fun" school tomorrow with Bubbie. I'm a little nervous but A LOT excited! Gosh! Y'all just don't know how long I've been dreaming about summer school! I cannot wait to have 4 hrs of fun time for JUST ME! I know it sounds very selfish, but I need this and plan on trying to make it fun time for myself and not working around the house, doing MOPS work or anything like that. I don't mind running errands, but the 4 hrs is not going to be spent doing MOPS work. This is me time!!!

I have a doc appt today. I really do enjoy hearing baby Bean's heartbeat and finding out that everything is ok, but the 3 hrs in the doc office gets a little old. I know I'm spoiled....I have been getting a sono every time and won't have any more unless there are issues, but still...its so boring. By this point you can feel the baby and I FEEL the baby. All day. Everyday! So, I'm gonna take a book and try to just enjoy the time being poked and checked.

On Sunday, we did a little church hopping. We went to a local church that has been around for about 5 yrs. Sounds like they are really growing- have 2 services and about 600 members. Bubbie LOVED his class and I was amazed at everything he soaked up and was able to tell us about Jericho. I was nervous for Peanut. He didn't do so hot when we left, but when we picked him up he was happy and content. We did go with some other families from our other church and thankfully our kids were in class with some friends/familiar faces so that might have helped a little bit.

Bubbie's vocabulary is growing like crazy. He'll talk about the craziest things and even get exasperated and say "Oh bother" or something similar to that. Its just hilarious to watch. He is very into trains in the last month or two. He goes from wooden trains to Take Along Thomas' and then to Track Master. I tried to convince him to sell the Track Master and buy more wooden trains, but he LOVES his Track Master. Hubbie and I think they are a waste of money, because they break so easily, but, of course, those are the ones he really likes! Bubbie has been watching YouTube video of Thomas the Tank Engine. He'll watch for about 30 mins and then run up to us and say he's done. Next thing you know, he's in his room with the door shut renancting the Thomas video's he has seen. I love watching his little mind working. Bubbie has also been doing word finds. I cannot believe my child, but he actually FINDS words. One day we were at Crackel Barrel and there was a word find on the back of the menu, he found a word without me paying any attention and then said "What is the next pic of?" Not sure how he knew how to spell the first word he found, but man! I was impressed.

Peanut has been quite a mover and a shaker. I found him on the computer desk sitting indian style the other day...happy as a lark! I just had to laugh and quickly put him on the floor. I couldn't believe my little climber. He is such a climber!!! He's always climbing onto something and then hollaring for help. Peanut has finally started to wave good-bye. Took him forever. His vocabulary hasn't changed too terribly much. He says- "Momma, Daddy, Bubba, woof-woof, bah (for sheep), outside, bathtub, shoes and choo choo." He has gotten very cute lately and if we ask him a question he'll nod his head or shake his head. Sure does make getting things for him a lot easier. I'll ask- do you want juice or milk? And he'll shake his head or nod his head when I say the drink that he wants. My son does have a shoe fetish. He wakes up, grabs his shoes and makes you put them on. They come off all day and you're putting them back on ALL DAY. We don't have another doc appt for about 3 more weeks. He's 17 mos and 2 wks today, I think... but when I took him in for his sick visit he still only weighed about 22 lbs....so he's still so small! Oh and I gotta put this in the post...ya know Peanut's crazy hair? It started lying down flat! :( I am so sad! I think it actually needs to be trimmed a little around his ears...which isn't as sad as getting Bubbie's first haircut, because Peanut doesn't have little curls, but I sure did enjoy rubbing that fuzzy head!

Baby Bean....well, Baby Bean is Baby Bean. He kicks and moves and causes Mama havoc with this heartburn. My heartburn is so bad I'll get nauseous and can't sleep. Its so hard to not have anything that will irritate it...because everything irritates it. Doesn't matter if I eat dinner at 5 or at 7....heartburn comes on around 3 and sticks around ALL evening long! Uck! I went into Target the other day and the clothes were so cute. With Peanut, I could wear the regular clothes in a larger size, because of the style. This time around, I'm not so lucky. I'll take something normal to try on and its just not made for anyone with a baby bump. Kinda sad. I really detest to buy normal priced maternity clothes.... Uck! I am definitely looking forward to September when I can put normal things back on!

Well, thats about all that is going around here...and I figured I had better get these kiddos updated before I forget the things they are doing.

UPDATE: Had to update. Back from the doc appt. Since I complained SO much about how long my appt is, I wanted to keep it real and honest. I only had to be at the doc for 2 hrs today- start to finish. The majority of that time is waiting in the examining room. I think that is what makes the waiting the longest. You're stripped down and waiting on the examing table. Not like you can wander around the room or switch magazines. Thankfully the pregnancy is going by wonderfully and smoothly. I even made a comment to Dr S and said that I couldn't believe this pregnancy is so normal. After Peanut, I never thought I'd have another normal pregnancy or one that wasn't high risk. Everything is great. Blood pressure perfect. Weight gain perfect. Even lost a few lbs in the last month! Baby Bean is fantastic and moving and growing. No placenta previa. Just normal, healthy and so far, so good. God definitely has answered some prayers! Next month I have the dreaded blood sugar test. I think I'll do ok, but who knows!!! Maybe I spoke too soon! ;) I don't mind drinking the stuff- doesn't bother me...its waiting to eat and feeling yucky until I can eat.

I Wanna Win This Giveaway!

I found this giveaway on Green Kiddos, which by the way is one of my favorite new blogs!!! I was really intrigued by this new cloth diaper. Its called "Gro Baby" and its exactly what I've been looking for. As some of y'all know, I am very interested in the world of cloth diapering. I have read blog posts, talked to lovely blogging mamas via email, Facebook and even a phone call. I did buy some prefolds and 2 all-in-one cloth diapers through craigslist back last Fall/Winter. Thankfully I didn't spend but $20 on all that, because I did NOT enjoy the prefolds. They stunk. I'm sure the fact that I had just found out that I was pregnant and greatly disturbed by ALL sorts of smells did not help with the prefolds, but stinky!!! I couldn't take it. I have since researched pocket diapers such as bumGenius or FuzziBunz, but those cost a WHOLE lot more than prefolds!!! Then came my dilema....is it worth it to cloth diaper from a frugal stand point if I'm not going to prefold. Can't say for sure....considering I don't spend more than $15 on a box of diapers and generally only buy, and have for at least 6 mos, one box of diapers a month for Peanut. Yes, I know this will change with the addition of the new baby, but then you gotta add in the cost of buying different sizes of pocket diapers, etc. So....that is where I have been on the cloth diapering issue for a few months.

So, I say all that......, there is a contest for GroBaby- go here to see all the rules. I can't wait to try one of these out! I like the fact that I could buy these, start using them on Peanut and not have to worry about buying different sizes for baby Bean. It might be worth it then!!! To check out Gro Baby, go here to read more!

Shut Up!

I can't believe I won! Oh my goodness! I could pee in my pants....which wouldn't be that hard lately. Ha! This baby no 3 has done a number on my bladder!

Anyway....guess what? I won! I won a contest! I am so excited! I had even forgotten about entering MumstheWurd's birthday contest almost a month ago. This is fantastic!


I had bought an older Leapster for Bubbie at a consignment sale with one game for $20. Hubbie and I had agreed on giving it to Bubbie once the baby was born. Now we can save the Leapster 2 and the games for Bubbie's birthday! How awesome!

Happy Birthday to the Daddy-O!

My Hubbie is turning 28 years old....or as Bubbie likes to say....he's turning 8, Momma! Yeah.....he hasn't fully grasped the idea of numbers after 20!! Kinda weird to think about Hubbie being 28 yrs old. It means we have known each other for over 10 years. I think he was 17 when I met him....almost 18......I guess....its been so long ago....I think that is right!


Bubbie suggested we throw a BIG PARTY for Hubbie this year and it would have been a great idea....but he didn't really inform me of his plans until yesterday around 1pm! A little too late to plan a birthday party! So, no party for this big Daddy! He just gets US- all 4 of us!


Hubbie and I gave each other passports for our birthdays(for the cruise), so yeah....we're lame! (Passports are expensive pieces of paper!) So, no big shindig! I do think Hubbie and I are going to celebrate at PF Changs with our coupon! And I am making a yummy yummy cake that sounds a whole lot like Applebee's Blondie dessert. Do y'all remember those? Not even sure if they still have them.... but yeah, so it sounds absolutely delicious!


Last year for Hubbie's birthday we were packing to move the next week.....and we had no table! What a fun week that was! Hard to believe that this was our little family last year in May and now....we've added another one! Yeah, I'm sure if I had told Hubbie that his next years gift was an addition of another mouth to feed, he would have made a few changes for the year!


So, here it goes...the mussy and sentimental stuff!

Hubbie,

Its been a great year and I am so thankful that I am the one you chose to share your life with! We have fun, crazy years don't we!? Lots of changes and a few ups and downs, but overall, we always stick it out and work hard. I appreciate those two things from you- the effort you put into things, working hard and always trying to serve me and the kids. We love you and I promise....after Baby Bean- NO more kids before your NEXT birthday! :) We'll wait til you're 30!


Love your family- Lu, Bubbie and your "mini-me" Peanut

LONG Awaited By Some....

......and detested by me! Here they are folks! I've been asked countless times to post pics of baby Bean in 'da womb! Here they are.... 22 weeks and 5 days and all my pregnancy glory!

And, as much I dislike BEING pregnant....I cannot WAIT to kiss my brand new baby's forehead and have him in our family!


Oh and not sure why I am not smiling in the first one. I had to do this while Hubbie was at work and the timer is sometimes unpredictable! :) Always weird to take pics with the timer!

I See Light....

My last few posts have been about a lot of frustration and "grief" over things in our life. Yesterday I realized....we live in the South people! We have a church every mile.... I would say probably 2 or 3 churches in every mile. We have a plethora of places to worship. Its a hard thing and not a fun thing, but its not earth shattering. There are SO many other things that could be shaking me. I'd much rather deal with something "minor" like this than something to have harmed my husband or children or family. In the midst of all this yuckiness, God has so graciously shown me all the good and positives in my life. I am so blessed- beyond my wildest imagination. I really thought I'd never be HERE in my life. In my perfect blissful spot. I have 2 precious sons. I am able to stay home with them. I am pregnant. I have so many things other mothers long for and instead of focusing on those BIG deal things.... I'm grieving over a church. Sad. Yes, I know. The church is really the people and the people aren't going anywhere. Yes, I may not see them the amount I saw them previously, but they are still in town and in the same small group- that will continue to meet at least through the summer. God has gentle reminded me of all that I do have. I shouldn't complain. I should pray that the Lord will teach us and show us and then just zip my lips. I don't like the situations that I find myself in, but I must learn to give to God and move on and count my blessings.

And while we're talking about blessings....hee hee....lets talk about food! I hosted Mom's Night Out for our MOPS group last Thursday night. A MOPS mom suggested PF Changs and I was happy to go since I had never been. (I've had some of their food since a guy in our JTEAM manages our local restaurant and he had brought some stuff to small groups one night.) I did try the awesome lettuce wraps and OH MY! I've been drooling over more since then!

Anyway, go here and enter your email address and they send you a coupon for a free lettuce wrap appetizer! :) Yum-0 huh?!

I Get Bored Easily...

I have a confession. I get bored easily. I can't keep a blog layout for long without wanting to change it. I do it to my house too. Most rooms in our house have changed at least 3 times in less than a year. I enjoy change, but only when its change I create!

So, thanks for sticking with me through change and my anal ways! I have a few more things I need to add. The most frustrating part about changing the blog look is that each time I do, all widgets and anything that I have up, get deleted...yes, each time! Quite frustrating! But its the price I pay to change my blog!

Had This In The Old Thinker....Its Gonna Be A Long Day!

So, I've had a post in my head for about a month or two. I wasn't really sure of the message I was wanting to send, so I kept it in the old thinker until I knew what I wanted to say. It must have been a God thing, because while we were on the cruise, we heard a speaker talk about something very similar and boy! it validated everything I had been thinking....which is why I had decided to write about that very thing once we got home.

I heard a radio commercial on the local Christian radio station about a church opening up. I am very familiar with this church, because a lot of its members have come from the church that Hubbie and I attended before finding our current church. For its opening service they were- lack of a better word- "luring" people to the church with the possibility of winning a Wii and raffles for $100 bills. Now, this commercial rubbed me the wrong way. I am all for reaching out to the lost and meeting this generational pull that has to be met in order to get people into the doors, but there is a line. I am afraid it is being crossed in churches everywhere. I don't think that special music or maybe a different or more relevant sermon instead of hell fire and damnation is all bad, but how far is too far? Hubbie and I have visited A LOT of churches. I've been to all sorts of denominations and been to traditional churches that have contemporary services. Churches everywhere are having a difficult time catering to the needs of this generation, but also being able to afford to keep the doors open. A study came out and said that 3% of Christians tithe. Think about that. 3%. 3% of your church tithes! Ouch! Can you imagine running a church on that budget? Now, imagine that church operating on the 3% and seeing it cut in half, maybe, because of the economy (i.e. job loss, people being scared about job loss, saving instead of tithing, etc.). So, I think churches today are under a great deal of pressure- pressure I'm not an American church has ever been under. I'm not sure of the answer. This is more of a post of thoughts that have been going through my head. I do not think the answer it to pull in non-believers with prizes and upbeat revelant music and then preach fluffy stuff every week. I know why churches do this- in order to get people in the door and maybe it works. Maybe those people that first came into the doors trying to win a Wii liked the people and decided to come back and maybe eventually asked Jesus to become their Savior. I'm not sure. I'm not an expert on this subject. I do know that I've seen a lot of stuff and I've been out there. I'm not a girl that has been in one church/denomination all her life and has never tested the waters of denominations. So, my question is, has the "church" crossed the line? Or is it ok, as long as you're bringing in people? A wonderful friend, married to a preacher, said that they could fill in seats all day long, but they were not focusing on numbers, but relationships and community. I love that. Has the "church" lost that thought? Are we more focused on having a great turnout than making sure the people we do have are ok, fed spiritually and being real? Again, I'm not an expert.

Like I said, when I decided to write this post, I had no idea how my words were going to be challenged. On Monday we got a call that our church was going to have a special mtg and that one or both of us needed to be there. Hubbie and I speculated on what the reason for the meeting was and unfortunately, we were right. We have seen signs and we knew things weren't what they needed to be. I had really struggled with a question that had been asked of me and wondered if I had maybe "missed the calling" and maybe if I had just said "Yes" maybe things would be going smoother, etc. (Not that whoever wasn't doing their job, just maybe I would have more time to focus on it or whatever...I don't know) Anyway, we had hoped that we could continue pushing on, but knew that there were issues. Our church closed its doors today. The church that we had fell in love with, made friends and felt at home- the first church we had both LOVED- its gone. The people aren't gone. We still have their at our house for JTEAM. Its going to be changed. The pastor lost his job, because of this decision and we are all grieving for their family. I understand the decision. It has a lot to do with the economy and the numbers. Unfortunately, money doesn't grow off trees, even for churches and even though it was making a difference in people's lives, it just wasn't enough to stay open.

I guess a good side to all this is that our church was a satellite to a church about 20 minutes away. We can always go there. There are 3 services there and I have no fear that that location is going anywhere.......BUT.......we didn't fall in love with that church. Its the same name, has the same sermon, has the same set up, but it was different. We visited the other campus and didn't fall in love with it. We decided to try the other campus out once it opened and we knew that it was a fit. I mean, the easiest thing to do is to just switch campuses, but with a new "relevant" church opening up on every corner of our town, are we content to do that? What about our friends and JTEAM members? Like I said, we will continue our JTEAM, but our family has a decision to make. Where will we go to church? What is God doing? Why is God doing this? We searched for so long for a church and now, the church we love, is gone. Its actually really sad to think about and it makes me cry to think of the people this affects. People that accepted Christ at this church and were being fed and growing! I loved seeing growth. Probably the first church I have ever gone to where there were baby Christians that HADN'T grown up in church all their lives and didn't "know" the church way or doing things. It was an awesome experience to be able to witness these people grow.

I say all that to say, I don't want to go church hopping again. Its miserable and not fun. What do we tell Bubbie, who LOVES going to church and who we've seen grow and start understanding the precious love of our Savior? His little buddies who he is so excited to see, he won't see them on a regular basis anymore and its all just really sad. I wasn't very emotional about it the first night we found out. I was deep in thought and wish my mind would shut down, but as I write more and more..... its just a painful reminder that its gone.

I want someone to call and say "Just kidding" but it won't be a joke.

Can't Blog About That......So I'll Blog About This.....

I want to blog about two things going on. One thing I can't blog about and the other thing I can't blog about yet....ugh....and those are the only things on my mind. One is frustrating and really a lesson from the Lord that I am enduring and not liking. The other is so very sad and disappointing and I know God has a plan and that it will all work out, but I just dread what could be a result of that and not liking what has happened. Let me say though, nothing has to do with our marriage, kids or job. All those are good and I am very thankful all those are good.

Since I can't blog about my BIG issues of the week, I will blog about one of my FAVORITES- my boys. Particularly the youngest....gosh! I will have 3 in a few months. A oldest, a middle and a youngest. Yowzer! BTW, I am 22 wks tomorrow. How does time fly so fast? Oh yes...now I remember....it flies because I am constantly cleaning someone's face, hands or bottom or the floor below them! We have a name crisis for our littlest dude. We usually do have a name crisis. Our first one (Bubbie) didn't have a name for a while. We went between two names and finally I gave Hubbie three names and let him choose. I liked all 3 and it really didn't matter. I just wanted the child to have a name! The middle name Hubbie had decided once we found out that we were having a boy. I have never been fond of the name- ok, everyone shoot me- and Hubbie knows that and has known it since day one, but it was Hubbie's grandfather's name and I knew it meant a lot to Hubbie, so I gave in! Since then though, he's never gotten to pick a middle name!!!! ;) J/K Ya wanna know what it is? Its Beamous. Yeah. The second one (Peanut) was pretty easy. We had a girl and boy named pick out before the sono, so once we knew it was a boy, we knew the first name. The middle name took a little longer. We finally decided that we liked my mother's father's middle name and went with that. Its Baird. So, so far, we have two little boys, both with family first names and family middle names! I think we got family-named out because after that we said NO MORE family names!!!! We also didn't realize it, but we had named boys with a middle name that started with a "B" and it was a gaelic name. How ironic, huh? Now we're on to baby no 3. We already decided his name, well, his middle name, since it was the only "B" gaelic boy's name we liked- Braeden. So we're done with middle names. Now, on to the hard part.....a first name. I think after 3 boys you'd think we'd name one after Hubbie. Hubbie detests the idea. I've brought it up each time and he puts it down quickly. Hubbie is a junior so that would make this one a third. Hubbie doesn't care and doesn't want it. So, scratch that. We really haven't come up with much. I liked Henry, but only if it was with John Henry and Hubbie and my mother both said a quick NO to that one. I think since its just a legend, it shouldn't matter, but they say no.....so.......keep looking. Then I thought maybe just Henry. Well, Henry is a good name, but its very old fashioned and it doesn't really go with our other two boy names. I think kids names kinda need to match. I mean, you can't have a child wtih the name Star and then go with Henry or John. It just doesn't flow. You gotta stay on the same thinking path- all Biblical, all family, all long, all current, all old fashioned....hope that makes sense. If it doesn't, then just ignore me and keep reading!!! So, our first two boys' names (which if you've read this blog enough, I've let the names out once or twice or if I've emailed you back, usually I use real names in the emails) have long names and they are not common common. I mean, you hear them, but not all the time. Peanut's name is more common than Bubbie's name, but like I said, they are both family names, so I wasn't doing it to be popular. So, we need help! I came up with the name Truitt on the cruise. I was watching t.v. one day while Hubbie was napping and Truitt came on the screen. I thought, I like that. Then I told Hubbie and he said- you mean after Truitt Cathy (Founder of Chick-fil-A) and I was like No, but oh, yeah, same name, huh? I did not think of the name because of Truitt Cathy and actually never even thought about Truitt before. Just seemed to flow with Braeden and our last name. ????? So, that is really the only thing that is on my mind and that I can blog about today, so there it is....what should we name our darling baby bundle no 3?????

And since we're talking about baby bundle no 3, I can't tell you how excited I am to be having another boy. I just knew it was and I think I knew I was destined for a life of little boys....I think I always have. I remember looking at a mom at a local church with all boys. I think she had 3 boys and little girls would come up to her and talk to her and flirt with her boys and I use to think, yes, I want little girls to think I am the coolest mom, because I have these little boys that they really like!!! Ha! Yes, I know...odd, but I think I was 16 at the time. Once I found out I was having all boys a sweet gal from MOPS said this- "Awesome! What a priveldge to be raising 3 heads of households!" And I stopped and thought- gosh yes! How awesome that God would intrust me with 3 future fathers and daddys and leaders. What an awesome responsibility Hubbie and I have to mold these little boys into fabulous men for God. Wow! Huh? I guess we got 3 so that maybe by the last one we'll get it right!!!!! J/K But no, I remember looking at this pic taken almost a year ago and just KNOWING that someone was missing. The missing person was never a little girl in my mind. I knew we were missing another child and I just knew that there was suppose to be another little boy on Hubbie's lap. I remember my heart tugging that day as I looked at the photo and just lounging for another little boy. I just can't wait for this baby Bean to be here!

Mothers Day 2009

For Mother's Day, Hubbie treated me like a Queen and allowed me to be lazy and relax while he did everything! He even had diaper duty and Peanut had about 8 poopey diapers that day! I did exactly what I wanted on Mother's Day and spent it with my family! What a treat!



When we came home from the cruise on Friday, this flower pot was waiting for me! I almost started crying! It was the most precious gift and so unexpected! Bubbie was so proud of it! A HUGE thanks to Nana!


Hubbie is good to me 365 days out of the year. When he knows I've had a long day, he'll do the dishes and clean the kitchen without me asking or me even knowing. He is always willing to lend a hand in whatever I need.

New Stroller

Shortly after Peanut came into this world, Nana and Bubbie went out looking for a double stroller for me. They looked at quite a few stores and it just really depended on how much we wanted to spend on one. I didn't really wanted to spend a fortune on something I didn't know whether we'd use that much. Thankfully Nana didn't buy one at a typical store, because the next stop was Goodwill and sure enough! Nana found an older Graco double stroller for $20. Bingo! Perfect! A cheap stroller! Its worked well. We really didn't use a stroller at all unless we'd be out for a while or if I needed to carry bags. Most of the time I held Bubbie's hand and I put Peanut in a sling. Once Peanut got older (10 mos and older), I would hold Bubbie's hand and put Peanut in a single stroller...that has worked well especially since Peanut eats a LOT of meals in the stroller and it has a tray!

Lately I have been walking with a friend at the park. To make it easier, I've taken the double stroller. That stroller is a BUGGER... older and heavy and with the boys in it, I'm probably pushing 80 lbs! In this Southern heat, its a chore!

I found this stroller on craigslist, asked a few people what they thought and since it was $100 from the Amazon asking price of $229, I figured I'd go ahead and get it with my "Obama- Baby- Money"!

So, we went and got this EXPENSIVE stroller (to me expensive because its the most I've ever spent on a stroller!!!) last Sunday before heading out of town. This thing is sort of confusing, but once we looked up the manual online, it was like- "Oh cool!" This stroller can adjust for the kids to sit all sorts of ways and even has handles on the side for an older child to hold onto. I love the fact that both seats can lie back completely which will be perfect for baby Bean. The lady that we purchased it from said she had only used it twice and it does look brand new! The true test will come this week when I go to the park to walk and have to unload it, unfold it, push it with the boys in it and then fold it back up to go in the van! I had Hubbie put the back bench seat of the van down so that if I couldn't figure it out, I could always roll the stroller into the back of the van!!!

This post comes to you courtesy of my Obama-Baby-Money! Next purchase with the money- a Mei Tai, so if you have any suggestions of brands, let me know! I know my SIL loves her BabyHawk!

Menu Plan Monday

Back from vacation and man! is it hard to get back into the swing of things! Mother's Day yesterday didn't help! I sure was lazy! I'd start picking up stuff and go "Wait! What am I doing?!" Hubbie knows I can't let myself relax, but I did a sure good job, by sitting on the couch, letting him bring me dessert and then watching tv and napping for at least 4 hours!

I was able to run to the store and make a meal plan on Saturday and thankfully we didn't need that much to last this week!


Monday- Leftover Mother's Day dinner- BBQ, potato salad, beans and deviled eggs

Tuesday- Leftover Spaghetti

Wednesday- Probably more leftover BBQ and veggies

Thursday- Stouffers Frozen Chicken Lasagna (on sale at Publix for $3.99 for the second week in a row! can't beat that!!!) and bread

Friday- Mexican Rice Casserole and chips and salsa

Saturday lunch- sandwiches with chips and fruit
Saturday night- Leftover Mexican Rice

For more, visit here. Have a great week!

Happy Mother's Day! 2009

Dear Momma,


Since you are lounging in the Bahamas on your 31st Mother's Day, I figured I would tell you a few things that make you special to me since I can't spend the day with you!

Your thoughtfulness and willingness to listen.
Your love for your husband, children and grandchildren.
Your eagerness to serve the Lord.
Never being ashamed of who you are.
Always there to encourage and point me towards God.

For all the years of your selfless love to me and the boys, I love you! Hope you're enjoying your fun time away!



Love,
Lu

First of all.....Cruise Information....

I gotta say....God is an amazing God. I knew He was...and I know He is....but our cruise was like none other. It was a constant worship service with the Lord. I told Hubbie on Friday, I don't think we went to one concert where I didn't feel God's overwhelming presence....it was overwhelming presence......and it brought tears to my eyes each and every time. To me, that sums up the trip right there..... anything else I say about the cruise.....its just extra whipped cream. It wasn't a relaxing, sit on the side of the pool kind of cruise.... from the time we got up until the time we went to bed, we were moving. Premier Christian Cruises (the co. who chartered the Royal Carribean, Monarch of the Seas) kept you moving. I think we saw every "act" on the cruise except NewSong, which wasn't a HUGE deal to us. My anxiety level was the highest on Sunday. I had a difficult time on Sunday and felt like I had a lump in my throat all day. Even after I dropped the boys off, I had to really focus on the trip and packing and NOT think about what we were about to do! It was exciting, but also nerve wracking. I don't think it was until Monday, late afternoon, while we were sitting on the top deck, waiting for us to depart, that it clicked and I was ok. I knew I was away and that no matter what happened to the boys, I couldn't help if I was there....maybe make the boys feel better, but I knew they were in the best hands- Gods. The prayers that were said for me, and for us, were AMAZING. I felt a sense of peace and presence....and after we got into the first set of concerts- Fee and David Crowder- on that first night, all was well. I knew we were meant to be there and I knew God was watching over the kids.... at times we kinda forgot we had kids....well, except for the littlest member of the family!

So, I say all that before the pictures and describing our days. I am so very VERY thankful we went. I can't believe its over....we knew about this for months and now its gone and a thing of our past. We met some amazing people- never did the autograph sessions or meet and greets- but our table guests were awesome. Hubbie really enjoyed the food... I didn't enjoy the food as much as he did, but I did enjoy being served 3 times a day and leaving the table without wiping a face or washing a dish!

The boys did fine. I was praying for their little hearts and minds while we were away...concerned that they might be confused or sad or grumpy. I prayed that God would give Nana and Pops energy and the ability to know what the boys needed, etc. Nana and Pops did an amazing job. We came home to two excited boys...Peanut was more excited to see Da-Da, but thats ok! I eventually got my cuddles and kisses. Bubbie asked this morning "why did God send you on the cruise?" Boy! I have no clue, but I sure am glad He answered the prayers....

Slowly....But Surely....

We leave tomorrow SUPER, DUPER early to make the drive to the cruise ship. Its about a 7 hr drive and I hate riding/driving especially for that long. Hoping that it'll go by fast!

Haven't packed yet.... we'll do that tonight once we drop the boys off with Nana and Pops. We've been slowly collecting things, making notes, buying odds and ends and just throwing them in the direction of the suitcase. Tonight will be crunch time and I know we can get it done a lot faster without boys and both of us!

Still having anxious moments/thoughts. Didn't sleep very well last night...thinking of everything that needs to be done and just the trip in general. I have always prided myself in saying that I do tell the WHOLE TRUTH on this blog... I write when I have awesome days and when I'm just in a bad mood. I very rarely decide to not blog about something going on. I guess people are getting the impression that we are ungrateful for this trip or maybe have gotten the impression that we don't realize WHO this trip came from. Ummm? I think that is so untrue. We've given God the glory from the SECOND those 3 radio men walked into our house. We told them the story instantly and have repeatedly given God the glory for making this happen. I DO NOT believe this is a once in a lifetime trip, BUT I do believe that it is something that we would have had to go into debt to do right now, which wasn't an option. We NEVER thought about not taking this trip- even when I was having my sobbing moments- with leaving the boys. I KNOW this is something for my husband and I and I am looking forward to having time away without kids. I really don't know why people are assuming SO MUCH. If you're close friends and family, you know the ups and downs for this emotional trip for me..... I do not enjoy spending every waking moment with my kids. I have always said I enjoy a night away or being able to run an errand or two without kiddos, but these kids are my life and my dream and my job. I take it seriously and I love them to pieces and know this is my life right now and want to do the best job- just like every mother, I'm sure. So, not to get into a rant, but PLEASE...just pray for peace, safety and for God to use this trip as a way to rekindle our relationship/romance and for us to be restored in HIM for the rest of this eventful year!

I've said this SEVERAL times, but I do believe God is using this to help me keep perspective on whose kids these REALLY are, give up control (or the illusion of control) and to strengthen our marriage.

So, next time you "see" me, I'll be- hopefully- a darkened version, but not BURNT- from the hot Bahama sun and have tons of pics, stories and wonderful blessings from the Lord!

Have a great week everyone!