I was inspired by Candice to do a recipe post for snowcream. I usually make it with Pet milk (evaporated milk), sugar, and vanilla. I changed up my recipe last time we got snowed in because I didn't have any evaporated milk and voila, it was even better!

Ingredients

Lots of fresh snow (Tip: Put a large bowl outside to collect your snow and bring it in right before you're ready for it...I used a metal bowl because it gets really cold to keep the snow from getting melty on the bottom)

2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Cup Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla

Directions

Heat your heavy cream in a heavy pot until it just simmers, stir constantly (do not boil!) Turn on low heat and stir for 10-15 minutes until mixture thickens and turns to a thicker creamy consistency. It will also turn a nice cream color.

Add your sugar and vanilla, stir until completely dissolved

Put this mixture in the freezer until it is completely cooled (you don't want to melt your snow!)

Once mixture is cooled, bring in your snow and slowly add your cream mixture until all the snow is covered and there is a little bit of liquid in the bottom of your bowl. Stir until smooth then serve quickly! Tip: I put mine back in the freezer and although it takes awhile to thaw out again, it tastes just as good the next day!

OOOOhOOOh, we're half way there. OOOOOhOOOOOH, livin' on a prayer, take my hand, we'll make it I swear.

Yes, some Bon Jovi love. Dixon Parnell would be so proud of me! ;) So we're at 20 weeks, that's 5 months, that's half of 40 weeks, half way to the due date (closer really). It's very hard to believe. This pregnancy is flying by like crazy strange fast. I am taking good care of myself though. I've been eating right, my sugars have been fine for the past week that I've been checking them, and I feel kind of empowered being able to control this "disease" that I have by making good choices about the food I eat. If only I would do that ALL the time! I go to the doctor on the 10th of February for my evaluation to see if the doctor will clear me for a home birth. Cross your fingers for me!

Hmm, in other preparation I've finished reading my Birthing From Within book and Ricki Lake's Your Best Birth, and now I'm on to Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. It feels so comforting to read these books. I guess I'm of the mindset that knowledge is power. Power, in the case of childbirth I think, makes all the difference between having an active vs. a passive birth. My reading has also been opening my eyes to the fact that ANY type of birth can be powerful and mom can be an active participant, but not without knowledge, surrender, and the desire to be present. I know surrender sounds like the opposite of power, but I mean surrender to your body, surrender to the pain, surrender to the circumstance you find yourself in, surrender to the cesarean birth, whatever it is so that you can be powerful with your body instead of against it. I'm a big hippie, I know.

Wait until you've heard my latest. I did not watch Food Inc, and decide to turn organic vegan...sorry to those of you who did. I know it was a powerful movie! ;) I attended a training hosted by a chiropractor, nutritionist, and wellness coach. She was awesome, found out she's also a believer, and she's just one of those motivating positive people. I am VERY cautious about chiropractic care in general but after she spent like 2 hours answering all my questions and such I felt more comfortable at least trying it. My midwife said it would help with my SI joint pain. It's Dr. Traci Bishop out of LR. Her nutritional stuff is also very interesting. She basically says the food pyramid lied to us and that we need to be fat burners instead of "sugar" burners. She insists that we should be taking in plenty of good fats, avoiding sugar (high fructose corn syrup especially), empty carbs, acidic drinks, artificial sweeteners, and drinking at least half our body weight (in ounces) in water. I'm trying out some of her ideas and feel pretty good about it. She also talked about "Burst Training." It's all very interesting.

Kay, that was a very boring post! Sorry!

We are going to have another little lady in the house! I'm sure everyone saw on facebook anyway, but all the same. Here's the announcement, we're having a girl! She was not nearly as cooperative as her sister. Addie was spread eagle, head down, butt up, legs over her head the moment they peeked at her. This one was cross legged, stubborn, and feet down. The ultrasound tech worked so hard, and it's about 90% certain that it's a girl, but I guess she/he could have been hiding something really well! I think we'll have another ultrasound in a month or so because the baby was till pretty small and they couldn't quite see everything as clearly as they wanted. Otherwise though, the baby has a healthy little body. It was so good to see her and watch her move! It was very different though, because you really had to work at it to make out body parts and stuff. Addie was very clear, but we were at almost 21 weeks with her when we had the ultrasound. It's amazing the difference in size.

Oh...I met a girl at work who is using the same midwife. I wasn't clear if she is pregnant now or planning to get pregnant. We'll see. The best part about all of that is that she's perfectly normal looking. You know, she doesn't wear tie dyed t-shirts, Birks, hemp sandals, flowy skirts, nor does she have dreds or anything! She's just a normal gal, like me. She even commented on how all the doulas there have hippie baby names. Isn't that hilarious? We discussed how good it was to find people beating the stereotype of midwife, doula loving, home birthers! ;) I hope I get to talk to her more. She works in the houses, so we don't run across each other super often.

Work, work, work...btw it is hard! I know I'm a weenie, but man these past few weeks have been tough. I'm very tired and sort of mentally drained. Everyone has been wonderful, but I still feel lost most of the day. We're also implementing a lot of new policies and processes surrounding documentation, which has made it even harder to learn things. Did I mention that I'm still doing all of my old job duties as well? Yep, so like triple the work! I did go through my first experience of advertising for a job, reviewing applications/resumes, interviewing, and then hiring someone! That was all very exciting, except for the turning people down part. I really didn't like that part at all. Anyway, I hired an awesome gal with amazing references so I'm very hopeful for a smooth transition. I'm just bummed that it may be 30 days before she can start. Prepare for a dog tired wiped out, crazy loon named Amanda to take over this blog! Okay, off to help get the kids in PJs. I miss them so much. They are doing better than I am I think. Freddie just hates getting up in the mornings and Addie is still dog tired when she gets home. Luckily, Jason has started picking them up around 4, so Addie gets an hour nap and can make it until bedtime without so much drama. I talked to the doctor about it, worried that she was not getting enough sleep. She told me that all kids are different and Addie just may really need more sleep during the day, so I'm willing to help her get it. I hate to see her so tired and delirious.

I am whining due to lack of readership/comments on recent posts. Although, that consists of like 4 people or so and one of them is out with "twins" ;), some have been traveling, and another is just a silent stalker who bugs me when I don't update! Anyhow, I figure it's my fault for neglecting to update for quite awhile especially around the holidays. SO...I'm going to do better and see if it helps.

Baby news, I am officially stricken with the diabeetuhs...imagine Wilford Brimley is saying that word and you'll have the correct pronunciation. ;) It's just fun to say it that way. My midwife is being very cautious with me and I have definitely made the change in my diet. The worst part was the three hour glucose test I had to endure at the health department. That stunk it up big time. So, what's the big deal? I had it last time, right? Well, here's the deal. Since I tested positive for gestational diabetes I have to be seen by a doctor or nurse midwife and cleared for a home birth. This adds an additional hurdle, and if my sugars (which I'll have to be checking 4 times a day!) and weight gain do not stay under control then a doctor or nurse midwife would not be able to clear me for a safe home delivery. I think I've decided to go with Dr. Guy Henry at Grace Women's Clinic here in Little Rock. I've had a friend go to him during pregnancy and she appreciated his liberal approach as far as natural childbirth is concerned. The midwives highly recommend him, and my new insurance will cover him starting in February. I'd have to pay out of pocket to see a nurse midwife because my insurance company only covers one here in Little Rock (only two in all of Arkansas) and she is strongly affiliated with hospital policy at UAMS. Therefore, it would be slightly risky to allow her the final decision. The other that I'd pay out of pocket for has an amazing reputation and actually delivered a friend's baby at home, but that could be a few hundred dollars that we don't really have.

The plan for now is to eat right, try to get some good exercise routine going, and test my sugars 4 times a day until probably the second week of February and then go in for an appointment with the doctor. Surely if my sugars are all in recommended range then the doctor will be able to feel comfortable clearing me or maybe just following up again before labor. I still will have to check my sugars and be followed by my midwife and her apprentice. I will also still have to go back to the nurse practitioner at the health department after 35 weeks as well for a final examination, the Strep B test, and a final clearance concerning my diabetes. Lots of things have to fall into place, but there's no reason they shouldn't. It's all up to me taking good care of myself, so I just will.

Ummmmm.......we have our ultrasound on Wednesday afternoon!!!! We should be able to see if we're having a boy or a girl and I'm super excited both to see our baby for the first time and to start preparing for this new little life in a new way...with stuff! ;) No, I just want to be able to decide on a name, tackle a knitting project, dream up nursery decor, and be able to tell the kids if they're having a baby sister or a baby brother. It's just too exciting! Tune in for news on Wednesday! May I also say that this day brings some sense of hesitation in me, because I know there's always a chance that something could be wrong with our little one that we haven't seen yet. I know that babies have been lost before ultrasounds, heartbeats can't be found, and all that joy can turn so quickly into mourning. I'm not trying to be morbid, just reverent and aware. I have so much love and joined sorrow for those who have struggled with these things all the while I pray not to have to.

My baby girl used to be one year old.

Now she is two years old!

My post is two days late, but all the same. I can't believe it. Although, I'm handling this birthday a lot better than the first. Maybe since I've been at home with them I haven't felt like it flew by so fast or that I'd missed everything. 2010 is going to fly though! Addie is precious and adorable, she's incredibly smart, and she is silly and girly and so much fun. She also has the worst temper in the world, is ornery beyond compare, throws the biggest ugliest fits, yells and screams, is the best at tantrums, and can not be reasoned with in the slightest. I guess I just need to remember how much I love her now, despite her bipolar tendencies. Then I can look back on this time as preparation for the teenage years and hormones! Thank you friends who love her and family who adore her. I get completely choked up when I think about how my kids will grow up with this extended family of people who love them and care about them, and know them. It means so much to have shared these two years + 2 months (you know, that small period of time where we were pregnant parents of 1!) of parenthood with you all. Pray that the two year old beasts leave my sweet daughter alone soon and for potty training to take off like a rocket in the next few months!

Well, the snow didn't keep us from having a wonderful birthday party for baby girl. She had a great time and we had a lot of fun. We missed a lot of people who couldn't make it or had to leave early, but we made the best of it and ended up having a really great time. I'm so grateful for our sweet friends and family. Addie Belle is a lucky little girl to have these great folks to grow up with. My sugar plum had a tea party bday, which was supposed to be Barney themed but we found no Barney anywhere! I searched high and low at five different stores. We didn't have time to really prepare beforehand and buy stuff online with all our Christmas goings on and then my work week I just didn't even think about it. The teaparty theme worked out anyway with a little help from Dora, who was readily available at every store I entered! Anyhoo, I'll post more this coming week as I enjoy a snow day tomorrow and then Addie's birthday is Tuesday and I'm going to send cupcakes to school with her. That sweet angel baby is such a big girl now. Wednesday I have a prenatal appointment and Addie's two year check up. I'll get to spend the day with her and have some Mommy Daughter time that is way overdue. Mostly because she's absolutely rotten to the core right now. The terrible twos are in full swing and I'm downright exhausted most days. Thankfully she's adorable and so sweet when she's happy that it kind of makes up for it!

I hardly ever actually make New Year's resolutions, but this year I'm totally out of the dieting category so I figured I'd go for it! :) No, eating better is definitely going to be one of them.

1) Eat according to the requirements for gestational diabetes from now until the end of the year in hopes of losing the baby weight and some extra by January 2012.

2) Prepare Freddie for Kindergarten by completing the readiness calendar distributed by the school district and teaching him basic reading skills!

3) Potty train Adeline

4) Learn to quilt (I learned to knit in 2010 so why not quilting next?!)

5) Knit a baby sweater and booties

6) Go on a romantic trip with Jason, no kiddos

7) Read 6 books for pleasure (preferably fiction because I'm always reading about babies, birth, knitting, etc. because I can just easily pick it up and put it back down!)

Here are some gimmes...

8) Start a new job!
9) Have a baby!
10) Learn how to be a full time working mom of 3!

Yep, my last weekend before heading back to full time work. I can hardly believe it. These past two weeks have gone by too quickly and have been way too full of hustle and bustle with the holidays. We've hardly had time to breathe, and now all of the sudden it's Saturday night. One more day until the craziness begins again.

Addie is in her room screaming because she wants her pacifier, yes it will be two weeks on Monday and she is still crying for it and asking me about it. I don't know what to do and I feel awful. Who says that pacifiers aren't acceptable for 7 year olds anyway? I think she'd probably wean herself off before then, eh? I think the kids are going to have a rough week ahead of them with all of these changes, but hopefully they will be able to adjust quickly. I'm just a bundle of emotions and worries.

Baby #3 News:

I failed my 1 hour sugar test

I now have to take the 3 hour sugar test at the health department this Wednesday morning

I have felt some little baby rolling movements

Now I worry when I don't feel them for a couple of days

I am oficially unable to wear any non-maternity pants except one oversized pair of slacks from 30lbs ago

I feel fat, not pregnant, just inflated and fat

My SI joint pain has returned, which I think is in large part due to too much jumping while playing the Kinnect

We have our 18 week ultrasound scheduled for January 19th! We hope to find out the sex of the baby then...and no, neither of us really have a preference

I will have health insurance starting in February, so if anything should go wrong I will have a back up!

Side note: When the baby comes and I head back to work, we have discovered that with fulltime daycare for Addie and the new baby and the afterschool program for Freddie...we will be paying $215 a week for childcare. That's about $10,000 a year, people! Too bad they can't also get a college education while they're at it!


Hmm, not much else going on except for our amazing new minivan! We found a 2006 Toyota Sienna, white, 82k miles, great condition, only two previous owners, all service done at Landers and completely well kept/serviced, (no bells and whistles, dvds, power doors, etc., but a keyless entry is a step up for us folks!), for only $12k WOOOT! We hate to have a car payment at all, but this is much more in our price range than we ever thought and we were able to get the make and model we hoped for. We've driven it all around town and back since Wednesday and still have half a tank of gas too! I feel a bit like a grown up in that thing! I don't know when I'll get back into the blogging swing after this big transition but hopefully I'll find a good rythm that will include updating the masses! ;)