Worship

There are some worship songs out there that are completely cemented in me. They are visceral. They bring me back - as music can do - to my newbie Christian days (even though I still sometimes feel like a n00b at times).

Some songs I will forever hear the voice of the worship leader from my "first" church home. I call it my "first" because I did attend a few other churches growing up, but this church was definitely the first church I could ever call home. It was where I committed my life - heart, body, mind, and soul - to Christ. Anyway, our worship leader, not that his voice was super unique, but it was his voice that taught me Christian music. Popular Christian music of 2007, you could say. I will always remember thinking, "How does everyone know the lyrics? No one is even looking at the screen!". Well, I soon learned that the songs are sort of on repeat as the Sundays go on. That's how...repetition, but in a good way.

There are two songs that will always, always, always bring back to me my "first" (same church here) Pastor's wife. The first First Lady I've known. She was and is a mentor, my mom, my friend, and (though I didn't know at the time) a model for who I hope to be as a Pastor's wife. One song, "Everlasting God", brings back images of her just dancing away. She loves this song! The other song, "How Great is Our God," I can see her signing the song. I don't remember all the signs for the lyrics, but I do remember - though faintly - the sign for the lyric, "The Godhead three in one".

"From the Inside Out" and "We Must Go" has me wonder what next great adventure a lovely friend is going to go on next. She LOVES Jesus in that radical way that sometimes I wish I could outwardly exhibit. She epitomizes those two songs and I always remember watching her worship and being completely swept away by it.

All these songs and more bring back many memories of happiness, tears, a new life, and of people who have come and gone, but they all made huge impacts on who I am today. They have all proven that no, you cannot do life alone. They prove that Jesus puts just the right people in your life to help you grow, cause you to grow, or - even at times - force you to grow. I am so thankful to them and to God for never letting me wander on my own.

Cute Baby Girl

My 19th Month Old Baby Girl

She was just cuckoo today! I did a lot of observation because she was just cracking me up. I started watching "Glee" on Netflix because I've gone through everything else, it seems. I like the singing and dancing and so does Baby Girl. She started this new dance move where she lifts her hands above her head and waves them around. There was lots of spinning and jumping. Her jumping though is when she sort of lifts her heels a bit off the ground.

Baby Girl also was brave enough to put herself in the dogs' cage.

Then we had a yummy dinner tonight of twice baked cauliflower. The directions - boil the stuff, process the stuff, then stick it in the broiler for a few. That's about it. Also, add whatever ingredients, seasonings you really like. We had ours with garlic, butter, chives, chicken, and tomatoes. I recommend boiling the cauliflower in chicken stock (or even veggie stock) versus just water. It'll give it a bit more flavor.

Oh, look! Our garden is growing!

Tomato and Cucumber

Tomato with a Baby Girl in the back

There are three tiny asparagus growing up!

18 Months & 25 Weeks

Here we go! 

Baby Girl is sprouting two more teeth on the top row. She is throwing tantrums left and right, which made me check out the book The New Strong-Willed Child. I highly recommend it whether you have this type of child or not because Dr. Dobson just has some great ways to raise your child so that you're raising them to be adults and not giant adolescents. I've realized that Baby Girl is not his definition of strong-willed, but she is definitely in the mode of wanting her way or throwing a fit when she doesn't get it. Let's see...what else...

• she howls like Loula from Pocoyo and it's the cutest thing ever
• does the hand motions for "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"
• she loves to spin and dance
• I still find her at least once a day flipping through her books in her room
• she loves to rub my belly especially when I wear my Beatles shirt (whoohoo!)
• is in a forward-facing car seat - now that was a highlight! Baby Girl exclaimed, clapped, and dance the entire car ride.
• oh yes, she still loves to eat!

Here are the stats for Baby Dos:

Total weight gain/loss: As of the last appointment (yesterday morning) I had gained 11 pounds
Maternity clothes: Yes, please! 
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Not too bad unless my back is killing me then every time I turn I moan and groan
Best moment from this week: Watching my belly actually move when the baby moves
Miss anything: Not really
Movement: So much! Baby Dos didn't give me any of those subtle, butterfly movements. No, it went for unmistakable punches and kicks. There is no fooling around with this one.
Food cravings: Soda...I'm having at least one a day.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
Have you started to show yet: I'm showing beyond what I was showing at this time with Baby Girl. 
Gender prediction: Boy (still my prediction!)
Labor signs: Nope. Although, I feel like this baby is ready to be born tomorrow.
Belly button in or out: Eh, the top is slightly out.
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or moody: Happy
Looking forward to: My baby shower next month :)

The Bread Made My Heart Burn!

I accidentally stole a thing of strawberries from one of my girls yesterday and I was very excited about it when I started unloading the stroller and found them! I bought some strawberries when I last went shopping and froze some for Baby Girl's smoothies, sliced some for fruit salad, and saved a few whole ones for myself. They were so yummy; however, we've been strawberry-less for a few days now and so this morning was quite sweet because Baby Girl got to have some in her Malt-O-Meal (I can't stand this stuff!), I ate a few, and I decided to use the rest for Strawberry Yogurt Cake - which I made into a bread instead.

You can find the recipe here: A Spice Perspective.

The only thing I really did different was the baking temperature. I had mine at 350 degrees and baked it for about 60 minutes. I didn't use Greek yogurt either. I stopped buying it because it's twice the price of regular yogurt. We used just simple, plain yogurt. I also probably put a bit over a tablespoon of lemon juice as well because I love baked goods with an actual taste of lemon, not just a hint of it. There were also almost two cups worth of diced strawberries.

I didn't do the glaze either, mostly because I forgot to take those ingredients out of the cabinet. The bread was fine without it and definitely sweet enough and I have proof - I ate a piece and proceeded to have heartburn for the next six hours! If there is one pregnancy symptom that just kills me it's the heartburn whenever I eat anything sweet or any kind of carb. I guess this means I'm done with carbs for the next four months. I did try a home remedy and it appears to be working: toothpaste. You just stick a dab in your mouth, swish it around, and swallow. The last ten minutes have been fairly painless. I'm a believer!

This is why I can't stand the stuff! It's such a mess! Cute, yes, but still a mess.

Wordy Wednesday

I have the habit of coming across a word that I know, but don't really know. This means that I've basically have made up my own definition to fit the meaning of the sentence. Recently, I've been reading books on my Nexus and, at first, I was totally against e-reading. Reading is meant to be done with dusty, yellowing pages, not on an impassive screen.

I found e-reading's redeeming value!

I can highlight a word and the definition pops up! Easy access! Learning the actual definitions also bring a whole new - and proper - understanding. Although sometimes my definitions are a lot more interesting, but I'll go by what the dictionary says, I suppose.

Gimmie a Break

The last three weeks have been slowly draining the life out of me.

Okay, maybe it's not that dramatic, but it was definitely a test of my mothering skills, patience, and knowing that "this too shall pass". Pastor Husband was training for his new part-time job and the training used full-time hours. Some hours were a normal type of 8-5pm and then some were late into the night. Then there were even a couple of graveyard shifts! I am so thankful for his stamina, hard work, and his knowing that we will get through this and then things will settle.

Today was our first normal day, you could say. Though he did work a graveyard shift last night into this morning. Then the dogs got out so I had to wake him after a few hours. I knew though that I needed to get out of the house without another human being in the car, which included Baby Girl. Now, she has been wonderful. I'm surprised she didn't tell me that she was tired of my face or try to run away herself. We played a lot of "what does the (blank) say", visited thrift stores, went to dinner, ran around the house yelling (all for fun, not at each other), colored, sang songs, danced, and played with kitchenware. We explored every corner of the house.

I feel like an Oprah-show when I say that I needed some "me time". It's that whole hating to show vulnerability thing.

I decided to go get a haircut as Pastor Husband and Baby Girl were napping. I did and I asked for side-swept bangs and I got something between straight across, side-swept bangs. It's different and I just wanted her to stop cutting so I said it was great. I then went to the used bookstore and browsed. After being gone a couple of hours I thought for sure that both of my family members would be awake and entertaining each other. I stopped at Starbucks first for a treat and went home.

They were both still asleep! As I tried to settle down and read some, I heard Baby Girl talking to her crib friends. I got home just in time for her to wake up. The break was over.

Oh well, it was still a couple of good hours of just relaxing as hair stylist took over my hair and it was nice being able to look at almost every book on the shelves without having to constantly glance for the little person next to me. One day she'll enjoy doing this with me and will probably want to sit in the middle of the aisle reading something and I'll join her with my own pile of books. It'll be a lovely way to spend some time together.