Tagged Again!

By way of reading Sarah's post (Sassyfrazz) I was tagged again. It'll be fun!!!

What I was doing 10 years ago: Ten years ago I was a wee one of just 13 1/2 years old. Yes, I'm young. What can I say? I was living with my parents. I was in the seventh or eighth grade. I was a nieve kid living in Hicksville. Good times! :)

5 Things on my To Do List today:
1. Well it's 1:08 so Sleep is number one.
2. Nurse Anna... that's always up there.
3. Make sure Anna got enough to eat and good food, too.
4. We're going to the park. I'm putting Anna in playclothes and going to have some fun!
5. Laundry and cleaning the bedroom. That's on my list, too... I might try to put this one off! :D
5 Snacks I Enjoy
1. Ice Cream (I have to agree there!)
2. Chocolate....ANYTHING. CHOCOLATE ANYTHING!
3. Iced tea. Yumo!
4. I like rice cakes. Those are good. If they're sweet.
5. Bananas. We go through a lot of bananas.
5 Things I would do if I were a Billionaire
1. Pay off school debts!!!
2. Make sure that my children and nieces and nephews go to college.
3. Build a house and live in it.
4. Make sure my MIL, FIL, mom, and dad can retire comfortably!
5. Go on a big family vacation... to the Mediterranean!
3 of my Bad Habits
1. Worrying about money.
2. Complaining.
3. Procrastinating. I'm the queen. Not you, Sara! :D Seriously. I'm awful at it!
5 places I have lived
1. John Day, Oregon where I grew up.
2. Near Seattle, WA where I went to college. In the dorms.
3. Near Portland, OR where I lived our first year of marriage.
4. Near Seattle in our own apartment with my hubby and Anna our second and third years of marriage.
5. Here. Let's just leave it at that. ;)
5 Jobs I have had
1. (how funny!) I worked at McDonalds for about a year and a half my Jr. and Sr. year of high school.
2. I worked at the college I attended.
3. I worked at a call center for Boost Mobile which was actually pretty interesting.
4. Dollar Tree. That job sucked.
5. Now I'm a mom, wife, and a wet nurse. hehehehehe! :D
If you are reading this, then I am tagging YOU! Leave a link to your blog in my comments, so I can check out your post.

2 Years Ago

Two years ago we found out we were pregnant with our beautiful daughter Anna! I was 6 days late on my period. I already knew in my heart I was pregnant! Halfway through the summer of 2005 God started to tell me that my daughter would be expected soon. I felt that I would have a daughter and she would be conceived in the Spring of 2006. Of course then I wasn't too good at listening to God and I still am not so learned in the subject, but I soon learned that it really was God who I heard once again. Here is what I blogged that day (I felt so poetic LOL... try to ignore that about it!)

This foreign, strange thing is pregnancy...what is it? I feel the same, except for that evil period thing...at least that has been put off for a while. What will life be like post-baby? I don't even know... To tell you the truth, I knew that I would be pregnant this spring, God told me in his whisper-quiet voice, the same way he told me about my future husband. I knew it, but denied it all the same. I was frightened, and who's to say I wasn't going insane? But, God 's cello-deep, harp-sweet voice is telling me "You're a mother; as we speak, you're a mother!" And, frankly, I must listen to God, and I must believe the Clear Blue Easy test (over 99% accurate, so it says) that read "Pregnant"...not after the recommended 3-minute-wait, but after 30 seconds or less!

Oh, God, bless our special angel. I've never had an angel like this before, so sweet, so innocent, so precious and so...so 100% ours!

I'm frightened, but in your hands, my trembling ceases, and I'm calm...I'm calm, and my fear is gone.

Natural Egg Dying Tips

To prevent your eggs from sticking to the shells when you peel them, use eggs that are a week to 10 days old! Older eggs have a different pH than newer eggs! Cool eggs immediately after cooking in an Ice-Bath! This will
make them easier to Peel! Green centers-Green is made from the Iron in the egg yoke combining with the sulfur in the egg whites! Heat will cause a chemical reaction and make the center of your eggs Green!
The longer you cook your eggs the more green the center will be!

But the best way to cook your eggs so they will be easy to peel and have pure yellow centers is to:
Place eggs in a pot of cold water, add 1 teaspoon of salt (this will help keep your eggs from cracking). Bring to a boil and COVER with a lid and REMOVE from heat! Let sit COVERED for 13 minutes, Drain eggs and immediately
place in ice-bath till cooled.

For a Natural Egg Dye try this:
2 Tablespoons Vinegar and a quart of Water:
Orange- 4 to 5 Tablespoons of Paprika
Blue-Red Cabbage -4 cups shredded
Red- Pomegranate Juice in place of water or 4 cups red onion skins
Pink- cranberry Juice in place of water- or 4 cups shredded beats
Green- Spinach Fresh or frozen
Ocher (what ever that is???)- Onion skins- Dry outer skins
Mocha- 1 quart strongly brewed coffee in place of water
Mix ingredients for the color you want in a pot with vinegar and water if needed and simmer 20 to 30 minutes. Strain and cool. After color is cooled, Dye eggs. Some colors may take 5 minutes and some may take up to and hour. That will depend on how dark you want your color to be. Remember to turn your egg for even coloring.
This also makes a great Science project!

Hey be sure to check out Favorite Ingredients Friday at Overwhelmed with Joy. There you can find directions on how to make a flowery food basket such as this and links to other bloggers' Favorite Ingredients Friday posts!!!

Sexiest Nursing Bra: Giveaway!

On my travels this morning to find a prize (ehehehehe) I came across the sexiest nursing bra ever! These bras are made by PassionSpice.com ... Gone are the days of the frumpy, droopy, ugly, unsupportive nursing bras! My first nursing bras were like that. I now go for the bras that can be crisscrossed in the back or straight over the shoulders so my bras don't have to be that ugly. Plus I was sick of my boobs hanging down to my knees (not that they could... but it sure felt like it!) It works. But it can be inconvenient searching for the straps after Anna is done nursing. I'm glad I came across this contest. If I don't win, then you bet that once I have the mulah, then I'll be buying a bra from Passion Spice!
If you really want to win the sexy nursing bra of your choice, head over to The Opinionated Parent and sign up!

16 Months Old Today!

My beautiful daughter, Anna, is 16 months old today!!! I can't believe it! It is only two months until I can say she is "a year and a half" old and only eight months until she is 2!!! Wow! I can't believe it!

Wordless Wednesday (59 minutes early)

"Teddy Kisses"

My First "Meme"

Alrighty... apparently these things are called Memes, but I'm not sure what that means. Maybe "Me! Me!" I don't know... but I've been tagged! Here are the rules!

Rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


Here are my 7 wonderful facts:

1. I've always wanted to be a mother! I knew I would be a mother from very young and I am so blessed to be a mom! The Lord told me in my heart I would be pregnant in the Spring of '06 about the middle of 2005. This is also how I knew about meeting my husband.

2. I met my hubby at church when I was sixteen. His family pastored a church about thirteen miles from our church. I grew up in the largest town in our county, which had a whopping one stop light and about 2, 000 people! His town was thirteen miles away. They once had a stoplight, but by the time they moved in they had been downgraded to a flashing yellow light. We met on Easter Sunday. My pastor invited his family and my family for Easter dinner. That was nine--Woah!!! 9!!!!-- years ago next month. Amazing how time flies!!!

3. I have two older sisters, Jennifer and Melissa. Jennifer is a pastor and is praying for that special someone. Melissa is married and lives in CA and has four little brats....erm, kids. The oldest of her children has Autism and cannot speak and is not pottytrained. He's 11 now. My little brother, Sean, is, was, married with a little one on the way this summer. He died in December. I miss him every day.

4. I really really REALLY want another baby!!! But I just know it's not the right time... I'll share why in number 5.

5. My hubby has been out of work for going on 8 months. He was laid off and nobody has offered him a job since. It's really hard. I miss having our own place. We're living with my MIL and FIL and their two sons as well. It's pretty crowded. I miss our house!!! I try not think about it. I know that things will turn around soon... or that's what I keep telling myself. I've got to remain hopeful or I just go insane!

6. I grew up very poor. We lived in a trailer house that was falling apart practically (literally). My dad didn't take very good care of us. I've forgiven him for that. I know he's sorry. My mom worked very hard for very little reward.

7. I really want a bicycle with a bicycle trailer with our tax return. I love being active, but I don't feel that safe just walking around alone with Anna in this town. It's just a much bigger city than I grew up in and I don't feel that safe.... sure I'm paranoid... but well, oh well! I have a wild one year old climbing on me. I should go.

I've tagged (Some of these ladies I haven't met yet):
1. Shannon @ Gabi's World
2. Candi @ All Day Night
3. Tonya @ Safe in His Arms
4. God Gave Me You
5. Tara @ Family Traditions, One Story at a Time
6. The Hudson Crew @ Air Force Family
7. Amy @ Remembering Natalie

Fun & Free Photo Editor

Last night I found a great and free (!!!) photo editor online. I was glad for two good reasons... One, my hubby has not yet (grrrr!) put Photoshop on my computer, and two I was able to play on it until almost two a.m. (not sure if that's a good thing, though *yawn*).... but it was all good. It's called Picnik.com and it's a ton of fun!!! Since my digital camera on my video camera was not made to be a great digital camera, this was a miracle!!! Plus, I really don't know how to work Photoshop. I'm always asking hubby to help me! So, they here are...

**edited to remove photos**

Beach Baby

A couple of weeks ago I won the cutest Land's End package from Mum's the Wurd's First Anniversary Bash! Included in the prize package was a bikini which is UV protectant, a long sleeve top with a mermaid on it which is also UV protectant, a sunblock set, a pair of cute pink shoes, a towel with the mermaid on it, a mesh bag, and speedo swim goggles! I felt like the luckiest thing since sliced bread! Today I woke up to the box in the living room and I squealed, "It's here! It's here!" No.... I did not pee my pants... thank goodness. That's gross.
But I did immediately dress my little princess in her new garb. Boy, she's cute!!! She's so cute that I'm going to get Anna's suit and matching shoes at Land's End from now on... I just don't think I can resist that amount of adorableness! I just wish I had a better digital camera to capture the magic with, but I'm thankful for the photo feature on my JVC Averio camcorder. Otherwise I wouldn't have these stinking cute pics to share with all of you!
Thank you Mum's The Wurd!!! You made my day! Now Anna will be the cutest little thing on the Oregon Beach this summer!!!
*edited to remove photos*

Happy to Par-Tay!

Well... I'm happy that I've partied this past week or so with the 5 Minutes for Mom crew. I'm tired... well... I think that's probably more my own fault! But I've found some of the best sites and blogs this week! Here's some of my blogging love to share:

1. The Pioneer Woman Cooks! is full of so many yummy delicious dangerous ridiculous recipes that I shorted out my laptop from drooling all over it! Just kidding. That was a lame joke! But I really do plan on making these delicious yum-yums for our Easter celebration next week! They're called Apple Dumplings. They're made with Granny Smith apples, Butter, Sugar, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, and a can of Mountain Dew. That's it. And they look heavenly. I've also read that the ice cream is required. Well... I think I read that on the delicious cobbler that was made on this site. Anyhow, you can choose to click on the photos on the left and right side of the screen, or you can search by meal or dessert, etc. Ok. I'm getting really hungry. Next!
Edit: Here's her blog, here.

2. SassyFrazz (Sarah) is one of the ladies I've met... although I met her right before the blog party. I love reading about her children and her love for the Lord. She's a fresh breath of air! Linky love! Linky love! Go check her out!

3. The Chocolistas --Anyone who knows me... and knows me WELL knows that I have a lifelong love of chocolate... Oh... yummmmmmmmmmmm yummmmmmmmm *drool*
Check out this blog. If you don't, then you obviously don't love chocolate! You don't want to be a hypocrite, do you? Do you? I didn't think so.

4. All Day Night is a nice one I found. Candi is a stay at home mom to two boys. What do I love about this blog? She blogs about real life. I'm always struggling to find recipes for my family of THREE and she always has Menu Plan Monday. Now I remember that this is is the site where I found out about The Pioneer Woman Cooks website. She has real recipes that I would REALLY use. That's a site to bookmark!

5. God Gave Me You --a blog about a mom who has a little boy who was born at 28 weeks gestation. My nephew was born this early, too. What a miracle baby! both of them!

6. The Beverly Bunch is one of my favorite blogs that I've come across so far! I absolutely love the idea of adoption and I have always wanted to adopt. Right now that's not possible financially but I hope and pray we can adopt some day in the future. This blog is written by BECKYJOMAMA (Becky, I assume lol) who has adopted her two beautiful daughters! I love this blog! Please check this one out!

7. Safe in His Arms --Why is this one an important blog and one of my faves? Tonya writes about her life after the tragic loss of her son to cancer. Anyone who has had this disease affect their family in any way should take a peek at this blog. My own mother has fought cancer and is currently fighting Melanoma on her face. She had surgery to remove the cancer, but they were only able to remove up to 88% of the cancer. She's still fighting this disease. She also fought colon cancer when she was 28 and in her mid thirties. She has to have colonoscopies every year because she is so prone to it. This is a great blog because of the title... what is it? Safe in His Arms. We're all safe in the Lord's arms no matter what our circumstances.

8. And Then There Were Two! is a blog by another Northwesterner who hails from Seattle, WA. She's a SAHM to two beautiful children under two!

9. Being the Barlows is a blog written by Amanda who is a mom and an Army Wife! She played tag with me this week... I haven't played yet... lazy me! Lazy, lazy me!!! :D (I'll do that this week! I swear!)

10. Five Lil Monkeys is written by Jessie and she's got... well... five little monkeys. I've got just one and she's throwing a tantrum at my feet. I better go. LOL!

11. Gabi's World --Shannon is a mommy to three and step mommy to two and her beautiful daughter has Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome). This blog is about her life and about her beautiful little girl, Gabi who makes the world that much rounder and that much more colorful! Check this site out. It's worth the read and worth the click!

Time...

It's amazing how time passes by. It seems like time stands still some times, but I've come to learn that it's actually moving so fast that you feel like you're standing still. I remember the day Anna was born. No, it doesn't feel like it was yesterday any more. I was in a haze, really. Anna was posterior which made for horrifying backlabor. On top of that I had no epidural and I was so starved that I had no energy to even open my eyes. I put everything into pushing her out. By the time she was born and placed on my chest I had no idea she was born. I was shocked that she was there and I felt like I had no warning. I said, "Oh my gosh! It's my baby!" But while they warmed her up and my O.B. repaired my wound (episiotomy) I remember trying really hard to open my eyes to see her, but I just had no energy. I whispered to Paul with all of my strength, "Is she ok? What does she look like?" He said, "She's beautiful. She looks like Jennifer [my sister]!" It seems like a million years ago now, but it also feels like last week. I remember nursing her those first few days. I was in pain from the episiotomy and couldn't walk or take care of her myself. I cried. I cried because I couldn't take care of her and I cried because I loved her so much! I can't explain that kind of love, but I'm sure that any mother who reads this knows what that love feels like. It floods over you. It drowns you in joy and thankfulness. I'm so very thankful for my little girl. I'm so very thankful for my blessings and for my daughter. She is my joy. She is wonderful and perfect. She is silly and busy and smart and loving and temperamental. I couldn't love her any more than I love her now, or tomorrow, or the next day.

She's sitting next to me on the bed with one of my rubber bands trying to put it in her "hair"... hahaha!

Welcome to the Party!

On a much, much, MUCH brighter note, there is a thing going on called a Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom
Call me a Noob, but... well, I am a noob. I really am not too sure what's going on and with a one year old running me ragged, I just don't have much time to read everything on the rules page, but if you want to join the fun, just click here and read the rules. (well, I got the jist... I'm such a slacker!) In the mean time, I will sneak back here and read the rules off and on. I know there are tons of giveaways to be given, such as a Mod Mum Sling, and a great giveaway from Ju Ju Beane Boutique which is giving away a wall canvas and carries other great things... like clothes... (I'm crazy about baby clothes!!! Good thing I'm broke or I'd go... well, broke.) and tons of other great giveaways to be found on this post here. You can also get your blog noticed!
So here I am... the odd man out. I hope I can catch up! Welcome to my site, party goers and thanks for the chance to have a little fun!


OK... I've found out that I need a list (I'm posting as I read the rules... smart, huh? Just like college all over again LOL!) So here are my list of my top favorite giveaways!!! Yay!!!!

1. Number 54, I think I would die if I won this-- a 60 dollar gift certificate to Mikarose! The last time I wore a dress was to my wedding and baby, I need to wear another!!! This was gifted by Liza from Liza's Eyeview.

2. Number 34, Custom Tutu from Live Love Dance Boutique. I'm all about the little baby tutus and have always wanted photos of Anna in nothing but a Tutu! Too Too cute! :)

3. Number 37, a Moby Wrap gifted by From Dates to Diapers. I've always wanted to try a Moby Wrap and would love one for our next baby! :)

4. Number 80, I also had to mention the cutest little Scripture Doll that was gifted by Live, Laugh, Blog. It's absolutely adorable and would make a great Easter gift!

5. Number 67. And finally, a blog makeover by Shauna at See My Designs. This would be good old fashioned fun! :) I'm curious as to what she would do to my blog!

6. Number 117, Somehow I missed the 25 dollar gift certificate to Target! How dare I? I am a huge Target fanatic. This is just... just... unthinkable! Gifted by Mommy Bytes.

7. Number 15, a 50 dollar gift certificate to Kids Magical Wonder Boutique! Like I said, I am crazy about kids clothing!

8. Number 47. These flaming baby legs are so stinking adorable! I'm hoping for a baby boy next, so we'll see how that goes in a few years. Gifted by Fire Mom.

9. Number 101. Women's Devotional Bible which is just gorgeous! I love the green cover, but most of all I love that it is a Devotional Bible. I've never had one before and I think it would really hope to cement my new commitment to God to keep up on my reading and prayer. Gifted by Jubilee on Earth.

10. Number 50. 12 Beautiful classic boutique bows! I am such a hair clip and bow nut! I would love this set for my daughter and she will wear them every day (once she gets real hair in, that is!) Honestly! Gifted by Mommymandy.com

I would be happy to win anything really if any of these prizes have been taken. I also have my eye on the two nursing covers. They will get plenty of use since I intend on nursing my future children as well. Thanks! :)

Edit #4-- LOL... thought I ought to introduce myself. My name is Sarah. I am a Christian who loves Jesus Christ. I'm a stay at home mommy to my little fifteen month old daughter, Anna, our only child. I am still breastfeeding with a goal of two years... if we make it.... she has weaned herself down to 3 (average) nursings per day. I am a college grad and want to go back for an Education degree some day. I can't wait for baby number two. I really love to write... therefore, the blog world is a great one to be in, but not live in. I'll try to blog without becoming an addict.
My husband Paul, my daughter, and me at the park this last weekend.

Little Bro

I was thinking about my little brother last night. Every so often, memories come flooding back to me of him. I remember floating down Canyon Creek on our inner tubes when we were kids. I remember him being so obnoxious! I remember snubbing him with my best friend... we would make him play the girl or the homeless kid... the crappy parts. And then I remember the last time I saw him. I remember that he was stationed on the Oregon coast and was nearby and wanted to see me. At first I wanted to tell him no or make up an excuse, but for some reason I really wanted to see him. I talked hubby into driving over there and borrowing money for gas, but Sean surprised us instead. He came here. We ate lunch at Shari's and he got to see his little niece. He showed me his rippling abs and gave me one of his patches. That was the last time I saw him. That was October. Two months later he was dead. Two months later he was gone. Two months later he did the unspeakable... something that I will never understand... Something that although I saw his unmistakable high hairline and freckled nose sticking out of the casket that day at his funeral, that I will never believe.... he committed suicide. I still don't believe it. I still expect him to call me and annoy me. I expect to see his name on the phone and think, "Oh great! Sean has something to say that will annoy me!"... I regret saying those things and feeling those things. Of course, I thought he would live to annoy me until he was forty. Just like any good little brother should. I still don't believe it and I still don't understand it. The good thing about dreams is that I get to relieve that last hug from October over and over. As often as I want. I miss my brother. I love my brother. The hardest thing about all of this is not the fact that I will never get to see him again or that I will never hear his voice again... I think that it's the fact that I don't know where he is. A part of me wants to believe that he cried out to God in his final breaths. I heard once that strangling deaths are long and drawn out. I pray he had time to realize his sin and cry out for forgiveness. But a part of me remembers his bitterness toward God and I think he did this in spite of God and he would have done anything but admit he was wrong. I really hope that the former is true... that he is with God. I guess only time will tell. Some day I will be in heaven... but I think I will be too overwhelmed with the wonderful and awesome presence of God to search for my brother. There is no pain in heaven. So maybe I will forget about the pain of losing my brother and think on the joy of the Lord instead. And maybe in the meantime I will have years to heal from this pain and sadness.

The Toddler Bed

Anna has a toddler bed now. She so far has been taking to it just fine, but do you know what I discovered? If I give her my pillow she falls asleep fast! I think she recognizes my scent and feels comforted. It's amazing. I know that the end of our cosleeping days is coming soon and that's sad, but I really do need some sleep. I'm exhausted. She really isn't a good sleeper and has never been a good sleeper, so even if she takes to the toddler bed and gets her own room, I fear that it won't do too much good and she will never really fall asleep and then sleep through the night. I've never been a morning person, either. So maybe this is some secret evil plan... I don't know. I really don't believe in any of that hoo haw anyway. I believe in God. I should believe hard that the Lord will help Anna feel safe and secure and help her sleep through the night at last!

Coloring!

Anna loves to color--on everything... plus she likes to taste the crayons. It's tons of fun! I'll have to scan some of her creations. Right now she is coloring in Grandma's journal beside me as I type on the laptop at the kitchen table. She wants to color on other pages rather than just the one--stubborn little thing! Now she's trying to stick the crayon int he bindings of the journal--all bitten and worn down. She has a giant floor pad to draw on and it's so funny to watch her. She lays down on her tummy so she can draw on it and holds the crayon in the perfect position in her fingers that you and I do--like she is so much older than fifteen months for just a moment. She is the most important little person in my life... so lively, so beautiful, so wonderful. I am blessed!