Whoo Whee...Is baby's arrival just around the corner?

So last week I went to my midwife appointment. I had been feeling some changes and saw some "signs" that labor was getting closer. I shared these with my midwife and she decided she should check my progress....WELL...at 37 weeks I was 3 cm dialated and 100% effaced! YIKES! She sounded just as shocked as I was. So, she sent me on my way with high hopes as she said..."make next weeks appointment, but I'm sure we won't see you!" yeah right! Well, I made it to my next appointment which was today...when they asked if I wanted them to check me this time I said, "No way!" I haven't been contracting much and the last thing I want to hear is that I'm dialated 5 cm with no sign of impending labor! :) So, with 16 days to go, baby J is quite the low rider as he/she has descended very low...makes for quite the funny profile I must say!

I'm trying not to think too much and keep up with my usual routine, but I am so excited to meet our little one! Even Ethan is getting excited as he asks every day if our "baby" is coming today. It's so crazy how fast pregnancy goes...from those first little kicks to the moment you hold your little one in your arms in the end. Every day I am absolutely amazed that God has blessed me to be able to bring another little one into the world.

Peace and Quiet

Both of my guys are in KC this weekend...Ethan spending quality time with his g-ma and g-pa and Brent left yesterday to attend is grandmother's 100th birthday party. My midwives advised me against traveling to KC since I'm only 25 days from my due date and went 16 days early with Ethan.

So, I am L-O-V-I-N-G this much needed me time. I really haven't done much but rest, read some awesome novels (Haverlee, I am so thankful you posted your favorite reads on your blog...I am loving Moloka'i!) organize a few of baby J's things and finish packing my bag for the hospital. Oh, and I'm so thankful for our location because I had an amazing walk to Caribou Coffee on Ingersoll this morning and spent 2 hrs there reading and drinking my chai latte...SWEET BLISS! This has been like a mini vacation!

I miss my guys bunches, so will be so excited to see them tomorrow!

Gotta go! My book and a cozy spot on my front porch are calling my name!

Ethanless

Today I just got back from meeting my parents half-way to Kansas City to drop off Ethan to spend the weekend with them *sniff*. He will be having some quality Papa and Nana time through Saturday...and boy do they have some fun adventures for him! Tomorrow is Kaleidoscope at Crown Center and then lunch at Fitz's, Friday breakfast out and a morning tumbling class, Saturday heading to a small town for a goat sale (my parents raise goats and Ethan LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the goats).

I am going to miss him so much (I even got a bit choked up as they were driving away), but I'm pretty sure his adventures will not involve home-sickness :0

But, to be sure he remembered his loving parents back home, I slipped some letters in his suitcase for Nana to read to him each day.

I am so glad he gets so many opportunities to spend quality time with his grandparents in KC...it makes living away from family a little easier. Ethan's parting words? "WOO-HOO! It's Papa's big truck time! Let's go Nana! Love you mama!"

Cake Makin' Fun

For Ethan's 3rd birthday we had a "Lightning McQueen" themed party complete with a Lightning McQueen cake. It was really fun to make...a bit of work but totally worth it. Starting last year I've been trying my hand and making his birthday cakes and have learned so much. They're certainly not perfect, and sometimes a bit of work, but totally worth it!

I don't know how professionals do it, but I thought I'd share a couple of tips, because I've found some things that really help make it easier.

1. I find a simple image online of what I want on top of the cake (make sure it is large enough to trace without super tiny details) I print this off and then trace it with a sharpe onto parchment paper.

2. I bake my cake a day or two in advance (I always use a boxed mix) and then freeze it until the day before I'm decorating (I decorate 1 day before the party). It's much easier to frost a frozen cake...this was a tip from my mom and it works...plus, your cake is super moist. I do not defrost my cake before getting started.

3. I frost my entire cake. When I'm done, I go back over my cake dipping my knife in a glass of very hot water and smooth the whole surface of the cake. I let this frosting set-up for about 30 min and then I lay the image on top of the cake and trace around it with a tooth pick or wooden skewer pressing firmly. Once you are done tracing you can lift off your parchment paper and see the indention of your image on the cake.

4. next it's just a matter of coloring in the lines :) you'll want some icing bags and some piping tips in various shapes and sizes. You can find these pretty inexpensive in the craft section at Wal-mart in the cake decorating isle (Michael's has a better selection).

5. I trace the outlines in black frosting using a small round tip. then fill in with colored frosting according to my picture. That's it.

Here was our final product:

I'm sharing this because it is totally doable! AND less expensive than getting it professionally done. There is a small start-up cost for your tips and bags, but I spent less than $5 on those. Then the cost of your cake mix. I used a friend's frosting recipe (super yummy) or I'm sure a canned frosting would be fine too.

Good Luck!

My Friend's Name is MOM...

This morning I was helping Ethan in the bathroom when he grabbed my cheeks and said:

Ethan: "Mama, guess what?"

Me: "What buddy?"

Ethan: "I have a friend!"

Me: "You do?!"

Ethan: "Yep! My friend's name is Mom!"

Me: "Awwww...thank you buddy...you're my friend too!"

Wow, he sure knows how to melt this mama's heart!

Happy Birthday To You...

Today, my favorite little boy in the whole wide world is 3. Every year on his birthday I can't help but reflect on the events surrounding his birth and homecoming. He is such a gift from God.

During my pregnancy, I prayed over him everyday. I didn't pray for his success or future occupation. I prayed that he would love Jesus; have a personal relationship with HIM; serve HIM; be good and kind and bring joy to others. God was gracious in answering our prayers...we continue to pray daily for Ethan's salvation, as we understand that it will be his decision to make.

Today, Ethan is a sweet, compassionate, HILARIOUS, kind-hearted little boy who loves Jesus, loves to sing about HIM and loves hearing stories about David and Goliath, Jonah and Daniel.

Ethan is also passionate about learning new things and Lightning McQueen. I've so enjoyed seeing his personality develop!

On a lighter note, we are in preparations for the big celebration tomorrow! It of course is "Lightning McQueen" themed ;) per Ethan's request. I can't wait to celebrate our little Mr.

Nesting, Nesting, Nesting...

I am officially in major nesting mode...nothing can be cleaned or organized enough! I have gone through closets, dresser drawers, cleaned every inch of the house...and it's still not good enough! It's a good thing we don't have a deep freezer, or it would be packed with more meals than we could eat (though I have been searching for one on craigslist and the newspaper!)

I've been slowly packing my hospital bag as I think of things here and there...(I know it's a bit premature...but I was totally unprepared when Ethan surprised us...kind of want to have the necessities this time around.)

I can't even stand to have a single dish in the sink when it's time for bed...even if it means hand washing dishes!

It sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm actually enjoying it (cue creepy Twilight Zone theme song).

I can't believe that in about 8 weeks (or possibly more) we will be welcoming our new little one! I am sooooo excited!