Tiny Twig Goes Out on a Limb

Embrace the Camera :: 1

I've decided that I want to be able to look back at pictures of when I'm in my mid-twenties and my babies are little and think...Man, I was a super-babe.  Enough with saying, "I'll be in the picture when I don't look tired" (will never happen!) or any other excuse.  In all probability, these are the glory days for the whole looks department.  :)  AND, in a slightly more noble regard, I want my boys to have pictures with their momma.  I know that those types of pictures are often few and far between in the photo albums.  Those are my favorite pictures of my childhood--and they are the pictures that evoke the fondest memories for me as a mother.  I connect instantly with what I was feeling the exact moment the image was snapped.

I love that Emily at Anderson Family Crew (soon to be momma of 6!!!) started this whole idea.  She is so spunky and cute...and SO BRAVE.  Check out her blog if you don't believe me! 

What I Wore Wednesday - Sixth Edition

This pair of brown pants can be worn a few different ways, which I love. They are from Old Navy several years ago.  Totally just rolled them up to make them a little more "of the moment".

The outfit on the left was when I went out with some girlfriends for dinner.  I just threw on a pair of chunky wedges and batwing (who names these things?!) shirt...breezy cool.  The second outfit is my normal day to day kind of outfit.  The kind for grocery shopping and minivan cruising (can I proclaim my undying love for my little VW minivan?!).  Gap City Flats make the whole outfit better for getting things done.

Now that I'm back in my normal clothes (although, the fit is still somewhat sketch on some of it, thanks Mr. Asher!) I'll be back linking up with Lindsey of the Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesdays.

Couch to 5K after 3 Pregnancies

First off, I'm over at The Naptime Diaries guest posting for Jessi today.  Head over there and read that post...I'll wait.  :)  I talk about the most feminine thing in my life right now...and a little hint for you--it has more to do with that picture up there than my awesome pink office. 

Okay, so my post for Jessi explains the "Why?" and now for the "What?".  I am currently on Week 3 Day 2 of the Couch to 5K program.  I am loving it.  My former cross-country running self is laughing at my postpartum self...but I am doing it.  It feels good to get outside and enjoy the summer evenings.  I am not striving to be a marathoner...and I'm not fast.  However, it does feel good to be active again after being pregnant for a lot of the past 5 years. 

Have any of you done the Couch to 5K program?  Did you enjoy it?  Did you keep running after your finished the 9 weeks or was it just a short lived program for you?  Maybe it jump started a new active lifestyle for you?  I'd love to hear your stories!  You can leave a comment or link up to a post you may have done about it on your own blog. 

This is a big and new adventure for me, but I am really loving it so far.  It is amazing how when you go out on a limb and get uncomfortable--a lot of the time you are rewarded with great dividends.  I'll be updating you guys on my progress and my thoughts over the next 6 weeks.  Should be interesting!

Box Cake Mix with a Can of Soda (or Pop, If You Will)

First off, if you are a strict paleo-eating, scratch-cooking, anti-artificial-anythinger...look away now.  Shield your eyes from this trainwreck.  I try to make good choices for myself and my family regarding food...but sometimes I fail.  This is a failure that was so easy, and it turned out so well!  :)

I was CRAVING (not pregnant) something sweet the other night, and Husband had used the last eggs at breakfast.  So, I googled what one could do with a box of cake mix.  Did you know that you can substitute all of the wet ingredients for a box cake mix with...wait for it...a can of pop??  Apparently, back when box mixes were first used you only needed water to complete the recipe...but people weren't buying it.  Literally.  Being so used to using real ingredients in their baking, they didn't believe that such a concoction would actually produce a cake.  So, Duncan-Hines, Betty-Crocker and the like added a few more ingredients and steps to please the home bakers.

I tried this technique of just beating the box cake mix and a can of pop (any flavors that complement each other will do) and the cupcakes turned out wonderfully.  They were a little flat...but other than that, they were moist and springy.  Apparently, eggs act as a binder in cake and keep it from being too crumby.  So, you would likely want to stick to cupcakes with this technique because a whole cake might tend to fall apart.

But, now you know...if you're ever in a pinch...you just need 2 ingredients to get your dessert fix.  Now, aren't you glad you know that??

Asher-7 Weeks

Life.  It is a great adventure.  Living life, giving life, it's all risky and sometimes scary and most of the time wonderful and always precious.  As I work through Asher's labor&delivery and subsequent NICU stay, I've come to understand what a Doctor friend of ours has always said, "Childbirth is normal, but it is never routine."  I think he meant this two-fold.  First, every child is a unique creation and the moment of their birth forever changes their family's life.  And second, there are so many variables in childbirth and things can go from awesome to scary very quickly.

I am thankful every moment for the sweet boy that we have here.  I am thankful that we were in the care of excellent doctors that recognized his distress quickly.  I am thankful that we were close to a state-of-the-art Level III-NICU.  I am SO thankful for the care of his NICU nurses (angels, truly). 

Maybe someday I'll show you the pictures of when he was packaged up for the NICU, on a paralytic so that he wouldn't further destabilize in the ambulance.  Probably not, I can hardly look at them myself. 

Maybe someday I'll share with you the stricken email I sent to some good friends in Charlotte, begging for prayer.  Probably not, because it takes me back to those scariest early moments.

I do have some posts on my heart about the things I learned during our scary moments...but for now, I just want to soak up the beauty and the great adventure that is having a newborn.  I have been infinitely blessed...three beautiful boys.  Can you believe it?