Christmas Time Pictures

New Camera!!

Thanks Pap Pap!

The Boys' Room

Sage.  I have recently fallen in love with this color.  The bedrooms in our new house were already sage when we moved in.  I'm hooked.  

And I have a new love for the Montessori philosophy.  While it generally is an education style, I've discovered it is also a way of life in the home with a young child.  Check out this blog http://sewliberated.typepad.com/sew_liberated/2009/04/finnians-montessori-room.html to see an awesome example of a Montessori styled bedroom for a young boy.

 I've also recently warmed up to all things boy, seeing as how I'm having my second one.  When I was pregnant with Kade, I dreaded the thoughts of sports, cars, and other "boy" themed rooms.  Thank goodness his favorite things are animals!  Now I am realizing that he can love any of those things, but I don't have adorn his room with cartoonish replicas of these ultra masculine pieces of the world.  

Point:  I've been working on ideas for the bedroom the boys will share (Kade also has a playroom, but one thing at a time).  I want it to be simplistic and focus on education materials, independence, nature, and God.  Montessori design suggests that all things are at the child's height, including artwork.  There should be a mirror so the child can watch themselves move, as well as start to dress themselves.  While I'm not going to empty the dresser or the closet, I think we will put a small basket of clothes next to a mirror, so Kade can explore and practice when he wants.  Here are some of the things we already have or would like to put in the room to achieve this peaceful place.  I'm also working on making a Scripture mobile.  I'll post pictures of it when I finish.

sage rug for reading area

Kade's dresser

i love this tree decal

 Thanks for the quilt, Grammy; it has all the perfect colors!

ATTENTION MAMAS! FREE!

No scam...I bought one.

Hi Jodie,

I know it’s been a while since you purchased a nursing cover from us. I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and give you a new promo code for a free patterned nursing cover for yourself or for that special friend. If you’re not currently nursing, you probably know someone who is or shortly will be! They make great baby shower and Holiday gifts!

We are running a new promotion where you can get any of our nursing covers (regular price $32)- Free. You just pay the $8.95 shipping. The code is "Christmas".

Go to uddercovers.com , click on "Shop Now", select the product you would like (we also have 3 piece gift sets available with this promotion) and you will automatically be directed to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code! Type in Christmas and it will bring your product total to $0! They will sell out fast. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!

This promotion gives you a $32.00 discount off your total order no matter what you put in your cart! This promotion code is valid once per transaction, so you can order as many times as you would like! Thanks again for your earlier purchase and have a Merry Christmas,

Sincerely, 

Jenny Pierce 
Owner UdderCovers.com

Udder Covers is a DBA of Milk Bands LLC

To opt out of further e-mails from UdderCovers.com Click Here

like Stranger Than Fiction...

I'm kinda like Maggie G.'s character on Stranger Than Fiction, when she talks about how she failed out of law school because she was always baking cookies.  Well, I'm not in law school, just undergrad, and I'm not failing, but I could be doing better... but I bake ALL the time.  It's finals time and I have a term paper due tomorrow, but I spent last night substituting healthy ingredients into the Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  MMM...so good.  Whole wheat flour, raw sugar, dark chocolate, Earth Balance... who needs a BAS anyway?

Break

Well, I didn't nearly accomplish the things I wanted to accomplish on our Thanksgiving break, so I won't be blogging until I get my work done for the semester.  It really piled up on me, and Bill has tons to do too.  So we will be sipping our coffee and tea and working hard.  See you in December!!

Thanks

18: family naps in the middle of a rainy day

19: organic decaf coffee

Bon Iver

More Thanks

16: Low budget date night, even if it is a flop

17: Two women in my mom's group had their babies already (due in Jan.) so I'm thankful that they are healthy and that I'm still pregnant.  Although I'm growing weary, I'm so glad that the baby is healthy and that it looks like I'll make it through finals at least.  Now, I might be singing a different tune if I have to be induced at 42 weeks, like I did with Kade...

Thankful

14: nice people who work at Whole Foods and give Kade free Annie's Bunny Gummies when he starts getting tired of shopping 

15: playgrounds

Thankful

Becky had a post of facebook about listing something you are thankful for everyday in November. I like this idea, but I'm starting a little late. So, I'm gonna catch up and then hopefully keep up the rest of November: (these are not prioritized)

November 1st: Indian summers in Pittsburgh

2: God

3: My hubby

4: A cute little boy

5: Pumpkin, anything

6: A house, no matter how frustrating it has been

7: Family

8: Nicole, the way she loves and the work she does

9: The playroom

10: Cute little baby clothes that are starting to fill drawers

11: Slippers

12: That Bill and I are able to go to school still

13: Healthy food

Love This Song

Okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I do love it...

originally sung by Stevie Wonder, now by Jack Johnson and I'm sure others

"Someday At Christmas"

Someday at Christmas men won't be boys

Playing with bombs like kids play with toys

One warm December our hearts will see 

A world where men are free 

Someday at Christmas there'll be no wars 

When we have learned what Christmas is for

When we have found what life's really worth

There'll be peace on earth

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas we'll see a Man

No hungry children, no empty hand

One happy morning people will share

Our world where people care

Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears

All men are equal and no men have fears

One shinning moment my heart ran away

From our world today

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me 

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas man will not fail 

Take hope because your love will prevail 

Someday a new world that we can start

With hope in every heart

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me 

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmastime

Advent Calendar

I've been doing some online window shopping for a fabric advent calendar for kids.  I would love to make one, but I really don't have the time.  I found this one and love it!! Kade knows most of the nativity scene from his Bible storybook and he would love putting all the animals up on it.  He also is learning his numbers, so I hope I can talk Bill into getting it when he gets home ;).  Just thought I'd share in case you have a little one at home.

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900002&e=storeproduct&pid=51245&section=excl_view_all

Lunch Today: Mock Tuna Salad

This is such a quick, easy, and healthy recipe for lunch! If you eat mayo (use light mayo to be healthier), you might as well boil up some eggs and throw them in. If not, sub Nayomaise (sp?)(soy). You could also chop up some celery and add too.

Mock Tuna Salad

Ingredients:
1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
and mashed
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
2 green onions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1.
In a medium bowl, combine garbanzo beans, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, chopped green onions, salt and pepper. Mix well.

Printed from Allrecipes.com 11/8/2009


Here's another tuna salad recipe I use to make at the cafe' I managed.

Curry Tuna Salad
sorry, no measurments, but you'll figure it out.

canned tuna
chopped apple
golden raisins
mayo
curry powder to taste
red onion
salt if needed

Yummy served wrapped up in a romaine lettuce leaf, so refreshing!!

Enjoy!!

PB&J "Sushi"

Too cute.

www.allrecipes.com 

Being Mama

So, I've been pretty stressed lately.  Our move was troublesome (still is) and we are so busy with school.  Bill is balancing work, applying to PhD programs, school, thesis, and helping out at home.  I decided that I really need to take control of myself, limit my stress, organize our life a little more and provide a more balanced home.  Craving "me" time to focus and start my day peacefully, I decided to get up a little earlier to pray and do yoga.  I only prayed today, but it's a start.  I've really neglected this time because we stay up so late doing homework.  I'll have to figure out where that fits into the schedule so that I can get enough sleep.

Today has been pretty successful so far.  Kade played in his room and I got caught up on the backed-up laundry (our dryer is broke).  We shared a healthy lunch and he helped with the dishes.  I got plenty of sleep, so I feel like the afternoon will be just as productive.  I will work on homework while he is napping and then Bill comes home.  

I can't wait to be all settled into this house.  Nesting is setting in, and I'd love to have all the baby stuff set up.  I'm praying that we get settled into a balance before the baby comes so that I don't feel like a crazy person all the time, just some of the time.  We are hoping to keep the holidays low-key and enjoy our break from school.  Hope nobody minds, but we aren't doing too many gifts this year because we still need to buy lots of baby stuff.  We are a bit sad that we won't be visiting family this season, but it's for the best.  Only 9 weeks (give or take) til baby comes!!

Bill has been so great; I know he has so much to take care of.  He really deserves a more relaxed wife and home!  So, here I go...prayers please.

Sweet Thai Delight

Maybe I should change this to a food and bev blog, haha.

Just so yummy that I had to share...

I add just a little stevia and soy milk, mmm.

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Recipe

1 15 oz. can of pumpkin

3/4 lbs firm tofu, purely

1/2 c brown sugar

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp allspice

1/8 ground cloves

1/8 tsp salt

3 tbsp water

1 9 in pie shell

Mix

Pour in shell

Bake at 425 for 15 min. 

then 350 for 35-40 min.  

yummy.

MMM

My facebook account isn't working, and I had to post this somewhere...pumpkin pancakes are sooooo good.  We had a breakfast dinner last night, complete with Morningstar sausage and "eggies", and Kade ate every bite.  He even asked for seconds!! This never happens; he's such a picky eater.  I've started making veggie baked goods here and there, just to trick the picky little guy.  He loves whole wheat zucchini muffins with chocolate chips.  Anyway, point is: PUMPKIN PANCAKES.  Bill is the official pancake maker in the family...I couldn't make a round pancake if my life depended on it.  We bought the Trader Joe's mix, but maybe next time I'll make my own with whole wheat.

You should definietyly try it.  

Shades of Gray/Grey

Today is Pittsburgh's favorite color to be...gray.  

So, I will drink my favorite decaf Earl Grey tea.  

And wear my favorite color, heather grey, in a cardigan.

Funny, just last night we were considering making the baby's middle name Grey.

Good thing I don't mind gray.

My belly!

Thought I should finally take a pregnancy picture with this one...I have so many with Kade!

Please vote for Kade!

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/mamamcgovern/287222333/

Praying Mama

Sometime back we made a list of prayers for Kade.  These were things we wanted for him and wanted to keep lifting in prayer.  I've really fallen away from being diligent about praying through this list, and today was a reminder of how important it is.  As parents, Bill and I so often get overwhelmed by the thought of taking care of everything.  But not everything is in our hands, nor are we alone in our tasks.  

Today, we were taking a walk and Kade left my grasp, just for a second, and hopped off the curb just as a car was peeling around the corner.  He luckily fell during his leap and the car braked.  I so often worry about this incident when we go on walks; he's a rambunctious, independent two year old.  Then, we went grocery shopping, he wasn't watching where he was walking and turned right into a card stand (the kind with arms that spin) and it poked his eye.  Bill was with him and said that Kade wouldn't open his eye, and Bill feared the worst.  Eventually he did, and luckily it was just a cut, not worse.  We will have to go to the doctor tomorrow to get it looked at.  It made me so sad for him.  Kade kept saying "eye boo boo."  He looks so beat up now because the exzema on his face is flaring up to.

My point here is that Bill and I can try to be the best parents possible, but things will still happen to him.  Life will still happen.  And rather than sit in fear, I have to have faith.  I need to be diligent about the role I can play in these things, which is prayer.  It's the only way my heart will survive the rest of this life with two boys... because, oh my gosh does it break your heart when they get hurt.   

B & W's

Sorry for the extra post, but I just love these pictures.  Can wait to put them in my photoshop and play with the colors...

Kade's sunny fall walk in Lawrenceville

Pittsburgh: love/hate

I hate Pittsburgh weather, so here are some things I love about Pittsburgh that will get me through the winter...

mmm, cupcakes...they even have vegan stuff

life saver, hours of indoor playtime

lots of museums, good for escaping the cold

it is pretty, but cold

 so good

Phipps Conservatory, for when you just need to see pretty things

we met at kiva han cafe on meyran, i actually go to crazy mocha more

lots more that i'm probably forgetting right now, but i'll add them as i get through the winter. i heard we have an awesome toy lending library, so we'll probably visit that soon, too.

I'm terrible at blogging

Lower Lawrenceville

Here are a couple of recent pics of Kade from my phone.  We haven't had too many to share over the recent months because our camera broke.  With a baby on the way, we are hoping to get a new camera by Christmas to capture all the sweet little moments...so more to come.  

This first picture pic is of Kade drinking apple juice at Starbucks.  I know, I know, Starbucks.  His new favorite is Crazy Mocha because of Julz and the goats on the wall.  He calls it the "baby doat store" and says that Mama and Dada get "hot toffee" there.  Too cute.

The second picture is of Kade adoring a puppy at the pet store.  He and I really want a dog, but Bill thinks it might be a bit much with the baby on the way.  He might be right.  I've been trying to get Bill to go to the shelter so he might just feel sorry enough for a really cute guy and bring him home!  Today, Kade told me that he wanted a purple dog.  We'll see about that one!  

In other news...

We've moved to Lawrenceville, an artsy, hipster neighbor that is being revamped in Pittsburgh.

We love it! (mostly)

Kade calls it "the new house".  It is so nice to have lots of room, but we had quite a few hiccups moving in.  Hopefully we will be settled by the end of the month.  We live close to a big park that we are trying to take advantage of before the weather is too bad.

We are both working hard in school and stay up late after Kade goes to bed to finish work.  Bill is working for the Princeton Review.  I finally finished my AmeriCorps term; overall, it was a great experience!

Jess has mostly recovered from her accident in June.  She has been home a few weeks now and is in physical therapy.  She says she walks like a toddler, but she is doing a great job of getting back on her feet.  She is hoping to graduate soon and is looking for a job.  Thanks for everyone who kept her in your prayers.

Well, I'm packing on the baby pounds (thankfully not as many as last time!).  I'm due January 11th, but I'm hoping to make it through finals and deliver the first baby of 2010 on January 1st.  We'll see.  We are pretty sure we have decided on the name Ryder, but you never know.   Maybe I'll have a belly pic to post soon.

Okay, I'll try to keep up this time...I'll be home much more now with Kade, so you should be hearing from me.