Catch up.

I have a ton of catch up to do in every area it seems - my blog, my house and my heart. Yet today is a day of rest, and I plan on doing just that. I believe and hope my week will be more productive if I allow myself some time to just be with my sweet family.

Anyway, I awoke this morning thinking about Monica and how she tagged me for this meme. So, here you go:

A One-Word Meme (which is really more like a one-phrase meme):

You’re feeling: Sleepy and a little blue
To your left: My in-box with papers that need to be dealt with
On your mind: One of many things: The project of sorting baby clothes and items and figure out what our baby boy will need. What should the nursery be? Should I register this time around? hmmm....
Last meal included: Steak, salad, corn on the cob and Blue Bell Chocolate Covered Strawberries ice cream - yummy!
You sometimes find it hard to: Fold laundry and put it away right when it out of the dryer.
The weather: Early Morning Thunder Storm
Something you have a collection of: Teacups and cookie cutters
A smell that cheers you up: Yankee Candle Pumpkin Spice
A smell that can ruin your mood: Stinky Diaper
How long since you last shaved: Too long. I need to do this before church this morning.
The current state of your hair: Just got it cut to a shoulder length bob. A good old standby for me.
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): That thing that is to my left. :)
Your skill with chopsticks: I can use them if I concentrate real hard
Which section you head for first in a bookstore: Christian or kids
Something you’re craving: a cup of tea, alone time, and a long nap
Your general thoughts on the presidential race: I am disheartened - as I don't see a candidate that I can truly support.
How many times have you been hospitalized this year: None yet - but that will change in August!
Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: The couch in our family room (only when everyone is resting too) Otherwise I love starbucks, or some place along those lines. I have yet to find a special place here in TX.
You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: Children's book author
Something that freaks you out a little: Movies that evoke fear or portray dysfunctional family relationships
Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: Cereal and pop-tarts
You have never: Been a consistent exerciser
You never want to: Find a snake or lizard in our home


Okay, that early morning thunderstorm I just mentioned? Yeah, it's really close now. I better shut down the computer. I tag Allison, Jana and Rachel. Happy Sunday! :)

Our Front Door is a Revolving Door...

Ally and Rob left Monday. We had a great time together - I especially liked getting to know my brother-in-law better. It was a really refreshing time. I'll share more later....

Now we are getting ready for another visitor - my friend Joanna is coming in today at 1:30...and I need to change the sheets, clean her bathroom, pick up toys, make a grocery list. But, I am not worried - as she is super low-key and is just coming to visit me - not inspect my home. :) Her visit will be short as she leaves Friday morning.

Prior to all of my company, I began reading A Life That Says Welcome- Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others - written by Karen Ehman. This book has been great - and really helpful as I am giving my hand a try at being the hostess. I am so thankful for the outlook it has given to me - as I think I would have been stressed out by this point in the game. I am only half way through - and will write a more complete review after I finish the book.

Well, better scoot. Don't know if I'll have a chance to post over the next few days - so have a great week!

Love,
Rebecca

Yippee!

Today should be a great day - as this evening I am going to attend a Stampin up "stamp camp". I am hoping to not only make some fun cards, but also meet some new people.

Then, late tonight my sister and her husband are coming in for the weekend! We are so excited to spend some time with them. Ally and I will go get facials and maybe do some shopping on Saturday, and the guys have a 1:00 tee-time on Sunday. Whoo hoo!

I hope you all have a great weekend!
Love,
Rebecca

What's wrong with this picture?

Besides the fact that I should have used a flash? Yesterday I went out to water our flowers and came back to find Little One with the sugar bowl in one hand and his toothbrush in another. He says to me as I come around the corner: "mmmmm nummmy!" (yummy) He, the floor, and his toothbrush were covered in sugar! Somehow, I don't think that brushing your teeth with pure white sugar will chase away those cavities!

An Off Day

Yesterday was one of those days when I was wishing it would be over by 4:00 in the afternoon. I don't know why, but the whole day seemed to go awol. It began with a fussy and irritated toddler.

What's the problem? I wonder.
Is he sad because Nana and Papa are gone?
Does he not feel well?
Is he teething those back molars?
Is he just exhausted?


Something is not right, and he is using all of his toddlerness to let me know. How I wish I knew so I could just fix it.

I suppose that I didn't help matters - my heart seemed to be full of turmoil as I proceeded through the day. An interrupted nap time meant that I didn't get my personal quiet/rest time.
A growing list of to dos with every thought. Company left Tuesday, more comes on Friday. I have a list of things I can't wait to blog about. Grocery Shop. Laundry. Menu plan. Clean bathrooms.

I'd attempt to get some kind of project done only to turn around and find that Little One had undone something else (like opening the closet, taking out every shoe and scatter them everywhere. Or spilling a big tub of pretzels that came from Sam's.) I tried putting everything aside and giving him extra one on one attention. How about painting? Something we don't do very often and something he enjoys. I got all the stuff out - only to have him cry and protest at everything. Okay, how about a trip to the mall - he usually loves playing in the play area and a stop at chic-fil-a. I just wanted to get out of the house. The trip to the mall turned out to be our saving grace. He was even content to ride in the stroller - something that he hasn't liked doing the past few months.

One of my daily goals is to have the house settled and most of my projects done before 5:30. Even if it means that something didn't get done, that's okay. It's like closing up shop from the work day when I used to work full time. Doing this enables me to quiet my heart and let peace settle over our home for the evening - plus, I am not distracted when Hubs comes home. I am amazed at the change in our relationship since I have started making this time line a goal. With my expectations put aside, I can be available for what he might need, or have more personal time for myself with out the pressure of having to get something done.

Not yesterday however. Yesterday the house looked (and still does) like a tornado has hit. Plans for dinner went out the window as there was no way I was taking Little One to the grocery store. My frustration climaxed as Hubs came home from a rough day at the office - and I needed a break - so did he - and my heart and home was anything but peaceful. I left him with orders to get a pizza, put the baby to bed, and off to Michaels I went. Actually, I really wanted a Hobby Lobby but couldn't find the one I had spotted once.

When I came home, everyone was sleeping. I too put my head on the pillow - asking God for a better day today.

This morning I am reminded of the verse I am praying over our home these days.

"This is the resting place,
let the weary rest"
and this is the place of repose."
Isaiah 28:12

Also I love the music of Watermark - and will play the song Invade over and over today.

Come, come in
Invade all You see of us
Any man, who'd walk Your road is welcomed here
And You're the only one

Chorus:
Jesus, come and walk the halls of this house
Tread this place and turn it inside out
With Your mercy...
Jesus, teach us the prayers that open these doors
Until Your light floods in and illuminates these floors
And let Your truth be on our steps and in these rooms
Jesus invade...

Reach, reach in
With the hand that heals all our suffering
Conquer all that is not of You
Bring Your spirit throught
As we fill these walls with Your praise

Chorus

Bridge:
I call for angels
I call for mercy
I call for freedom
In the name of Jesus
In the name of Jesus

Lord, quiet my restless heart, fall over my domain and my family. Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. Please dwell here.

Rebecca

Good Eats.

Thursday morning I was awaken at 5:15ish with Hubs standing by my side.

"Do we have any vanilla?"

I answered to the best of my sleepy ability. He had pulled me from a dream in which I was dreaming that I had just realized that my neighbor across the street was my sweet friend Carrie! I had just gotten off the phone with her and she and Eric were coming over for dinner! Oh, and I had just discovered this new type of bubbles that when you blew they made sprinkly shiny snowflakes that wouldn't pop and just made a garland of snowflake bubbles. I was ecstatic! They were standing at my front door, casserole in hand, when I was awakened.

After my answer, he said "Oh, and we're out of baking powder. I left the empty container on the counter so you'd know." Huh?? Okay...Was I having another dream?

And then, he was gone. I went back to sleep wondering what in the world he was up to. Him baking is not a common occurrence. Especially at 5:30 in the AM!

About an hour and a half later he was standing by my side of the bed again and I was awakened with this question:

"Do you want a pancake?"

"What?"

"Do you want a pancake? I am totally running late, but if you want one I can go down and fix it but it's going to be ready by the time you get down there. I had mine with a scrambled egg and syrup on top. Do you want it like that too?"

"Sure. That'd be great."

And when I got down there, breakfast was indeed waiting for me. He then went on to say that it's not how Alton said how to do it, but it was really close. One of the shows Hubs loves to watch is Good Eats on the food network. In fact, we have just about every episode that has played since January stored on our DVR.

I have no idea what happened in the hour and a half that I was sleeping - I imagine that he would watch the cooking show, pause, then go to the kitchen and do the next step. Cooking like they do on food network is something he has always wanted to do, and since moving to TX has given it a try. It's been so fun to watch him! And, I get Good Eats from it too! :)

Checking In...

My mom came in on Wednesday - and it has been so much fun to have her here. I am very thankful that she actually made it, as she had tickets with American Airlines, and her flight was canceled, and American got her on a flight with United. My Dad is (was) scheduled to come this evening - but more American flights are being canceled - and we are hoping that he may get here tomorrow.

Little One is having an absolute ball with "Gree Ma". It's funny to me that he calls her this - just four months ago when we left Colorado, he called her Nana and we have called her that since. But when she got here, he started calling her "Gree Ma". It's so cute!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

A Note From Little One...

Yep, that's right, we're going to be a family of four with two boys! The ultra sound was super. It's so amazing to see all of his little bones, the features of his face and even his organs. Wow. He measured big for having a due date of August 2nd, so the arrival time may be earlier than planned, we'll see. (We are planning on doing a scheduled C-section.) Our printer/scanner isn't working right now so I can't scan the Little Guy's actual photo...but he looks great and healthy!

Have a great weekend!
Love,
Rebecca and Men ;)

It's hard to believe...but the proof is all around me

5 years ago today, a certain gentleman showed up at my door with The Hobbit in hand. He was coming with the intentions of reading to me.

"I'd like to read you a story." He said.
"And if you like it, I'll go on and read to you the next three books."

Yes, it was our first date - "story time" as we like to call it. I did like the story and he did read every word of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy to me. In fact, we finished the Return of the King on our honeymoon. Don't think for a minute that we sped through the books - it took us two years to get married!

And now, five years later, we get to go to the doctor today and find out who is inside this baby bump: (As long as s/he is willing to play our game today...)


So, here we are at 22 weeks and 6 days. Oh, and that little bump towards the bottom of my belly, it's not my belly button - I promise! It's a drawstring. I guess if it were my belly button it would be a little cuter - huh? :)

This morning I am filled with gratefulness - as I recall the past five years - our courtship, wedding, the birth of our first son, and now learning more about Baby W. Now, it hasn't been all roses - we have walked through some hard times. But, even as I think of those times, I believe they have made us all the more strong and united. My life is overflowing with goodness.

Sweetie, happy fifth anniversary of your story time venture - I love you!

The song that I awoke singing this morning is here.

Be blessed,
Rebecca

p.s. Check back in later - as I'll post the ultra sound results later this afternoon. :)

Out and About!

The Grocery Game

This post is inspired by Rachel's recent post. (who, by the way, is the winner of the Spring Clean 2008! Congratulations Rachel!)

Last weekend we needed some groceries and I had a Visa gift card with a balance of 38.22. I was determined to spend only the amount on the card - and was on a mission. After cutting and gathering coupons, looking through ads, and making my list I headed out. This is what I came home with:
1 bunch of seedless grapes
3 grapefruits
2 whole "natural" chickens - reduced for quick sale - cooked one on Sunday, froze the other
2 boxes Lucky Charms - SO DANGEROUS. It's impossible to keep a box around for very long. :)
2 boxes Cheerios
1 Bag Chips
2 bags of cheese
2 gallons of milk
1 bag frozen broccoli
10 containers of yogurt
4 oranges
1 Dawn Simple Pleasures Dish Soap
1 Bottle of Cascade Dishwasher Soap
1 package of Cascade Action packs
1 container of Mr. Clean Cleaning Wipes

The total spent was 38.79 - (I had to do some digging in the car's change compartment to get the last .57)

According to the receipts, I saved 31.86. This does not include the four dollar "register rewards" that I received at Walgreens, the two dollar coupon I received for my next purchase of cereal at Randalls (aka Safeway), and the two 1.50 coupons for Pampers that are on the back of the Cheerios boxes. That's an additional nine dollars in savings.

I love finding deals like this. It totally makes my day. However, it is very time consuming and there is no way I could have done it all with a toddler in tow. With the prices of gas and food on the rise, I am even more determined to shop this way.

Thanks to Dave Ramsey and his Financial Freedom program, we have come a long way in budgeting and managing our money in the past two years. The area that I struggle with is budgeting for our food. I can figure out how much to budget for (thanks to Quicken) but need a system to actually carry it out. I find that it's easier to use the debit card, however, it is a lot easier to spend more than I had planned.

Here are my questions for you. If you budget for grocery shopping - exactly how do you carry it out? What's your grocery shopping system using coupons and ads? And, if you have a smaller family is it worth shopping at places like Costco and Sams?