Banana Nut Winter Smoothie

Smoothies, soups and muffins are becoming regulars in this kitchen...simple, satisfying and nutritious. Head over here for the recipe...very tasty and a nice change from the all-fruit smoothie.

While we're on the topic of recipes, this soup was DELICIOUS! Made lots and we had leftovers for lunch for the next 4 days...when it was gone, Dan asked me when I was planning to make it again. :)

19 weeks

Here we are at 19 weeks...almost halfway there! This pregnancy is FLYING by...and I'm thankful to say that I'm feeling really good...this is the stage where it's fun being pregnant. Baby's moving around a lot, but still small enough that I can be active and comfortable, most of the time. :)
Hannah Reece is happy about her baby sister and wanted to pose with her. ;) She give her lots of kisses and talks baby talk through my belly. It's so special to share this pregnancy with my daughter, I'm often surprised at how in tune she is with this process.And a few more pics with my sweet girl...not very often that I'm the one in front of the camera! Even though it was a bad hair day, I'm glad that Dan captured one of our favorite activities...rocking out together to some good music. This little chickadee is so much fun. :)

She recently chose a book about ballet at the library and I taught her the ballet "positions"...can't believe I still remember those! :) I'm thinking that dance lessons might not be too far away!

Here are a few of Hannah Reece's favorites on our playlist:

• Black Eyed Peas (I Got a Feeling)
• Chris Tomlin (Holy is the Lord)
• Jack Johnson (Upside Down)
• Lady Antebellum (I Run to You)
• Natasha Bedingfield (Pocketful of Sunshine)
• ANYTHING by Taylor Swift
• High School Musical Soundtrack

My Field Trip to the Greenway

I went to the pumpkin patch. I went to make my own bag. I drew a square. I drew me giving my friend a candy apple. I went on a tractor ride. I played ABC Bingo and when I was done I got to eat all of the fruit skittles, after the bingo game. When the tractor started going, it was like a bullet shooting the tractor. I saw horses. People were riding the horses! I got to look at the animals that were real, but the animals that were real were not alive. I got to see a snakeskin.

I got to see a hay maze...and I got to stand on TOP of the hay. And it was so fun.

I got to color a leaf and make my own necklace. To make the necklace, I got a cookie branch, I put beads on the string...there was a tree on my necklace. I saw the HUGE beehive...I saw the huge drawers in the forest. I got to the field trip by riding the bus, it was fun. My favorite animal was the owl. And that was dead. I'm all done now.

A tricky day...that started with a treat!

After a day like yesterday, I've just gotta VENT! Shoot- that blasted dog (cute as she may be) is about to be homeless if she poops on my floor AGAIN! AAAAggghhh!

I miss my hubby....did I say that already? He's working at church in Florida this weekend. Yesterday was a day that I would like to qualify as "a character building experience". Mom, aren't you proud of me for sayin' that and not something else? Graham talked about wanting to go to trunk or treat (which is a tradition at our church in FL) ALL DAY LONG.

If you've ever watched Seinfeld, you'll appreciate what I'm about to say. Living in Bonita Springs is a little like living in Del Boca Vista (the retirement community where Jerry's parents live) Gated community after gated community. So...my kids have never really had a "typical" trick or treat experience going from house to house begging for goodies. Instead, our wonderful church there hosts this carnival/trunk or treat where the kiddos walk up and down the ailes of parked cars, lavishly decorated trunks open wide with wonderful people that we know (I love that part) passing out candy to the kids. It is so much fun.

Now, back to my sob story. :) Coupled with the fact that we're all missing Daddy, it was POURING rain (so we had to go to the mall), Hannah Reece has diarrhea, and that when I picked up Reecie earlier in the day-I pulled a muscle in my belly....well, you get the picture! The day was shaping up to be a rough one. Oh! Not to mention the fact that we got to the mall, I whipped out my camera to get pics of my darling High Sch**l Music*l Cheerleader and Clone Tro*per and the screen said...[no memory card] my response..."perfect!" You know, it was just the poop-flavored cherry on top! Anyway, I hope you're laughing right now because I am!

Just so you don't feel TOO sorry for me-there was ONE redeeming part of our day...my treat. ;) Earlier that morning I hit The Nester's rockin' yard sale! Yup, I was one of the lucky ones, I told her I was even gonna brag about it right here on my blog ;) she was so gracious and kind-she even let me take my picture with her...I'm telling y'all-this lady is a blogging celebrity!

And my bargain-huntin' sidekicks (can you tell it was early?)

As someone with VERY little (or no) decorating budget, her clever, thrifty ideas on how to dress-up our little nest have been an encouragement to me. My all time favorite thing she does is show many ways to "mistreat" your windows.

Here are some of our fun finds for the day: (thanks for the awesome deals Nester!)

Hannah Reece picked out this flower arrangement for the girls' room-usually I don't go for "silks" but this one was very cute; A giant mirror (so many places I could put this!); and some cute throw pillows...Reecie is displaying a bristly, fish ball thingy that she found at the sale.
Some lovely Matelasse euro-shams for the living room; mirrored candlesticks for our bedroom; and a giant MESS of pinkie ribbons that I'm sure will come in handy!

Graham helped me with this pile ;) : A red fleece for me; two DVD's for the kiddos and my first baby girl item...a burp cloth hand made by the Nester with this cute black and white toile scene stitched in pink! (Not pictured a Nascar book and hat just for Graham :)

I'm hoping my kiddos will agree to dress up again today, maybe I'll have pics of them all decked out after all, or not. :)

One last thing, can you believe how GORGEOUS this tree is? I had to bust a u-turn to get a shot of this autumn glory. No matter how pretty I try to dress my nest, reminds me that God is concerned about me seeking him (and focusing on eternal things), and he will meet my needs abundantly. Thank you, Lord. Perfect timing.

Luke 12:
27"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Our third child is...

...a baby...

****** GIRL ******

This little one sucked her thumb for just about the whole 20 minute ultrasound. So precious.

Hannah Reece has insisted all along that this baby was a girl, referring to the baby as "her" and "my girl"...she's so happy (and frankly, I'm relieved that we didn't have to tell her otherwise!)
Graham is still not home from school yet, I can't WAIT to share the news with him. He's such a wonderful big brother. And Dan...is reeling...with thoughts of braces for two thumb-sucking girls, two weddings (much less giving away two brides!) and how he's going to protect his daughters from the boys. ;) So very thankful.

I hardly slept a wink last night...so excited about seeing this beautiful little one today. I think I'll make good use of this rainy fall weather and go take a nap....I'll be dreaming in pink!

Introducing...

a furry addition to our family

Charly

(short for Charlotte)

born on July 25, 2009...I'm realizing as I write this that is the day we found out baby #3 was on the way-and it is my Dad and our niece Kailey's birthdays!
Charly is a shih-a-poo (part Shih-tzu/part poodle) and weighs only 3 pounds-I have to ask right now that you'd pray for her safety, because she's much smaller than Dan's size 14's and is constantly under-foot! She's quite taken with him and follows his lead like a little shadow. ;)
We've had her for 2 days now, and we love her already. She's super mellow for a 3 month-old puppy and her favorite spot is any lap that'll have her. She's doing her thing outside about 90% of the time (thankfully, the other 10% is tiny and not too much of an event!), and sleeps well and often. Her little mouth is still so tiny, we have to crush her dry puppy food so that she can eat it without choking, teeny-tiny girl!

Graham had a scary time with a dog about a year ago...ever since then both kids have been afraid of any dog, big or small. It seems that little Charly has proven to be good medicine for their fears. Here's a progression of the kiddos interactions with her in the last few days, you can almost see their confidence growing:

Home for the first time (after a little bath because she peed on herself in the car!)
Graham reading the book on how to train a dog "Charly, I'm going to train you, now...sit!"
How's that?
Reecie's new buddy Her favorite spot on Dan-right on his neckRiding in the car to pick up Graham from school
Yes, even sweet Charly is a naughty girl sometimes...she has an affinity for Hannah Reece's dress up shoes! Getting to know each other
Her favorite non-living things to snuggle with, Ellie the Elephant and Reecie's baby doll...
Can you tell, Hannah Reece is warming up? I had to teach her how to carry her properly today, because she wants to take her everywhere that she goes. A big switch from yesterday when she'd squeal if Charly came too close.

Charly found her happy place :)

Cravings

In the 1st trimester it was anything very salty/sour...potato chips (salt & vinegar), ritz crackers with peanut butter, grapefruit with salt, apples, popsicles, tuna fish with pickle relish and any time of the day or night poptarts?! But please oh, please...NO chicken or broth...that would just send me right over the edge. These foods were my staples, as I was so sick that mostly nothing sounded just fine to me.

Second trimester rolled around...feeling SOOOO much better now...my "sensitive dog smeller" (as Dan calls it ;) is starting to wear off and I can eat mostly anything...been making up for that lack of food in the first few months!

So last night, at 2 am I woke up with my first middle-of-the-night craving...and of all things, something I think I've only eaten a handful of times in my whole life:I'm tellin' ya, those puppies jumped right into my cart at the grocery today. Honest to goodness, they tasted SO good before bed tonight! ;) Hopefully, the excessive sugar and artificial flavors and colors won't damage this poor child!