The Belly Book

... by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is fabulous!! My friend, Heather, suggested this scrapbook journal to me after using it during her pregnancy. I am NOT a scrapbooker, but after looking at in on Amazon, I knew that I would love it. I do! I have spent the afternoon getting caught up on the first trimester. It will be so much easier to keep up with it now that I am up to date.

Favorite Features:

The curvature of the book. How stinkin' cute is this? I also like the colors. While I would like to have hot pink thrown in there, I understand that it has to be gender neutral. Still very funny!

Belly pics... hence the name. I already have an album on facebook with my weekly belly shots, but it's fun to see them in a book. One weird thing? Belly shots started at Week 1. Who knows that first week that they will be expecting? So, I don't have belly pics for Weeks 1-4. I used the positive pregnancy test for Week 4. Just found that part a little strange. I also like that there is a space below each picture to write reflections and whatnot. Fun journal!

There is also spaces for ultrasound pictures! YAY! I used my two favorite pictures from yesterday's ultrasound. I must say, our baby sure is a cutie patootie!

I look forward to completing this book. If you can't tell, we're very, very, VERY proud parents. We are looking forward to January!!

Little Miracle

Technology is absolutely amazing. Not only did we get to hear the heartbeat of the most precious life, but we were blessed with seeing our child while in the womb! Even more so, with one click, we are able to share our sweet addition with our family back home. With 1,000 miles between us, this is quite the blessing. What an experience this has been already!

When the ultrasound first began, Baby Love was all cuddled in enjoying a wonderful nap. This shot allowed us to see that precious heart beating away.

What a sweet little profile! We just love the little leg sticking up. Baby Love is definitely comfortable in this little "spot". I don't think this little one has moved from this nook since we heard the heartbeat last week!

This is right before Baby Love's apple cart was upset. Apparently this little baby doesn't like to be bothered while sleeping. We had to laugh because momma is the same way. I often whine to Andrew, "Just 10 more minutes!!!" We both could hear Baby Love saying the same thing!

It was amazing to get this shot. Once disturbed, we realized that we have a little wiggle worm on our hands!! Arms and legs went a flyin', and Baby Love wiggled and wiggled to get comfortable again. In this picture, the baby is waving to us. So precious! I love seeing that little nose and mouth. We have a baby!!

See? Limbs flyin' everywhere! This little one can MOVE!! I can only imagine the trouble I'm in once I can feel all of these movements taking place. I bet I learn real quick what the little "prince" or "princess" prefers. Again, Andrew said Baby Love takes after momma... who is referred to by many as the princess and the pea. : ) My mother-in-law was telling me that our baby must have gotten a double dose of wiggle worm, because Andrew used to do acrobatics while in the womb! We're in for it!!

Baby Love is settling back in here. The ultrasound tech was able to get a reading of the heartbeat. Strong and consistent from last week. 160 today : )

So... coming January 18, 2012! We are so excited to be parents and to meet our snuggly wiggle worm!!



Delivery by Diana Prusik

Mom's book is now available for purchase!

"Livi finds new purpose in her troubled life when she joins her family's small-town florist shop. There, the strong and wacky Wilson's Florist gang monitors the pulse of Mount Helicon, where customers carry ...stories even the local newspaper does not contain. Tales of birth and death, sickness and sorrow, love and betrayal, and even forgiveness—Livi hears them all. Privy to some of the community's deepest secrets, she sometimes wishes she didn't know so much, especially when news arrives that a dear family friend is dead. Faced with servicing his funeral, she is blasted with painful memories she's struggled for decades to ignore. Soon, guilt and grief over childhood and adult tragedies close in. Instead of turning to loved ones or God for comfort, she leans on alcohol, her long-time clandestine companion—but secrets rarely escape the close-knit flower shop crew, who makes Livi's business its own. Fumbling through life's challenges together, the Wilson gang often delivers more than flowers, yet when Livi needs delivery, can the bonds of faith and friendship dissolve her defenses?"

Purchase for your Kindle

A Baby Story

On May 10th, we realized that our lives were changed forever. I woke up that morning feeling slightly sick, and took a pregnancy test I had lying around on a whim. As far as dates are concerned, I thought that there was no way it would come back positive.

God had other plans in mind. I cannot describe my shock as I looked at this positive result. I immediately began thanking my Father for this precious gift. Sadly, Andrew and I were still living 1,000 miles apart at this time, and there was no way I could wait the three days for him to come home. So... I sent him a text with a picture saying that we had been blessed with a huge (but tiny!) surprise. This seemed appropriate considering our relationship survived off of texting. He was so happy! Somehow, he said he had a feeling that I was going to be sharing that news soon. I, however, had no idea.

This picture was taken the day I found out. Throughout the next few days, I had several lunch dates with friends, family time for graduation, and many more opportunities to be around those we love. All the while, we kept this sweet blessing quiet. Well, I had called my mom because I wanted her support and prayer, but other than that, it was our little secret. I cannot tell you how hard it was to keep from screaming it on the rooftops!

We then made the move across the country, and we told the rest of our parents the good news by 8 weeks. I have spent much of my time here in New York exhausted and queasy, and it's safe to say that the house is a complete disaster. Luckily, I wasn't too zealous in unpacking, which is going to work to our advantage when we move again soon.

This is the most recent picture at 10 weeks. If you don't know me, then not much looks like it has changed. If you're familiar to me and my appearance, I think it is quite obvious that something is changing. I am now ready to get past the "fat" phase and onto the "for sure showing" phase.

We had originally planned to keep our little one a secret until 14 weeks. After a miscarriage in December, we were terrified to tell too soon for fear of it happening again. However, after hearing that precious heartbeat yesterday, we were too excited to keep it to ourselves any longer. Hearing that heartbeat is the sweetest sound our ears have ever heard. Andrew cried when he heard it, and it is a moment that will forever be etched in my mind.

I am looking forward to having the first trimester behind me. I am SO glad that people know now. I feel like the prayer support for this baby multiplied immensely in such a short amount of time. I also feel more connected to everyone back home... which is something my heart has needed lately.

We are ecstatic about this sweet addition to our family, and we are so looking forward to what God has in store for our lives! He has blessed us beyond our wildest imaginations, and I have no doubt He will continue to do so. We do not take a single second for granted with this precious life, and we are so thankful for this amazing blessing!

We go in on Wednesday to have an ultrasound done. We will share those pictures as soon as possible. Until then, please keep praying us through!!

God is SO good... and we are SO grateful.

Fate of the Fabric Flowers

So far, I have crafted two pieces from the fabric flowers I've been making. They are currently listed on my Etsy site. I have bigger plans for these flowers eventually, but it's fun to practice right now!

This was my first attempt! That pesky spot on the brown flower is now gone. I think this piece would be precious for a little girl's photoshoot.

This was today's project. Grey and yellow is IN right now, and this one is too fun!

What's my big project? A dear friend is sending me loads of fabric to craft a fabric flower wreath with! This was the ultimate goal when I started these, and I am so excited that Jen is letting me use her as a guinea pig! So, stay tuned!!



Fabric Flowers

Today, my friend, Heather, shared an adorable wreath with me made out of wrapped flowers. I pretty much decided that I wouldn't be able to make it because sewing is simply not my thing. I then found this tutorial on how to make no-sew fabric flowers. Take a look at how I did it...

First, I gathered my supplies. A shirt I never wear, measuring tape, fabric scissors, hot glue gun, and pencil.

Then I cut my strip of fabric. This one was about 1 inch, but I did other that were wider.

I then hot glued about 1/2 inch of the end and tightly rolled that portion to make the center of the flower.

To make the rest of the flower, just roll the fabric away from the center and glue as you go! It's simple!

I made these four beauties. What will I do with them? I'm not sure yet... that's the next step. I may add some bling... or some feathers... and I'm thinking it will be a headband. Check back at a later date to see the finished product!

Week at a Glance

June 5, 2011: Sunday

Andrew and I celebrated our 1st anniversary. We also attended church. In my blog about this day, I explained that "we enjoyed a very nice sermon preached by our pastor's brother-in-law. It really put a lot of things into perspective for me... such as waiting for God's timing in everything. His plan is so much bigger than we can understand." For the first time since moving to New York, I had placed all of my trust regarding my job search in God's hands. This sermon opened my eyes to the fact that God has EVERYTHING under control. So, I stepped back and let him take the reigns.

June 7, 2011: Tuesday

I received an email from the rehab company I have been eyeballing since spring. The email explained that they had job opportunities in two locations that would be feasible for us to work with. I emailed them back saying that I was very interested and attached my resume and cover letter (for about the 15th time!). After conversing back and forth and getting the paperwork together for state licensure, a phone interview was scheduled for Thursday.

June 9, 2011: Thursday

I had a phone interview with one of the company employees. During this phone call, she asked what my top priorities were when choosing a company. After explaining that I value employee enthusiasm, team approach, and passion above a paycheck, I was told that I just described the company's mission statement. I was also told that I was "exactly the kind of person" they were looking for. I was ecstatic. The values they seek in an employee are the same ones I desired in an employer. I thought for sure that I would have to wait a few days to hear if I was going to have a second interview or not. That was not the case. An interview was set up at the end of our phone call. Eek!!

June 14, 2011: Tuesday

I had an interview with the company administrator and consultant. Andrew took off work to go with me to the interview as it was over an hour away, and it was also in an area that we had never been to. I couldn't be more grateful. The entire way, I was wound up tighter than a pistol. I really, really wanted this job... and I had never interviewed for a "big person" job before. As we pulled into the town, it was the first time since moving to New York, that I felt like I could make this area home. It was like St. Charles meets Cape Girardeau. Clean, safe, and beautiful. We both knew that this area is where we wanted me to work. We also knew that the surrounding area is where we would like to settle down.

As we approached the downtown common's outdoor seating area where my interview was supposed to take place, my nerves started to lessen. How quaint is this? Who could be nervous in this beautiful setting? To the left, there is an information center. We were an hour early, so we went inside. Inside here, there was an adorable coffee and sandwich shop. Since I hadn't had breakfast due to nervousness, I got a berry tart. After I had finished eating, I got a phone call from one of the ladies saying they were in the coffee shop and wanted to move the interview indoors since it was a bit on the chilly side. I told them I was already there, so we started the interview early.

I thought that my nervousness would come back, but I didn't realize how easy it would be to talk to two strangers about my love for the field of speech-language pathology. Halfway through the interview, one of them stopped me and said, "You have such a passion for this! It is obvious to us how much you love it." Wow! What a compliment. That put me on cloud 9. I have been telling Andrew that I just wanted someone to give me a chance here in New York, and to hear that my passion is evident in the way I talk was incredible. They then told me a little bit about the position and where it was located. The position is for a 120-bed skilled nursing facility. I would be the primary SLP, and the entire rehab staff is beginning on the same day! They encouraged me to drive by the skilled nursing facility before we left town.

At the end of the interview, they both shook my hand, told me it was so nice to meet me, and said they were going to make their decision very quickly. They told me I would know by Wednesday. So, an hour after the interview had started, I joined Andrew again. I think he could see the excitement radiating from my skin. I was too pumped NOT to be excited, but I also knew that if I didn't get the job, I would be devastated. It sounded like a perfect fit for both sides.

We left the cafe and had lunch in a downtown pizza shop. It was delicious! Plus- how awesome are these streets? I can just imagine that they are so fun to walk on a cool summer evening. The whole downtown area is this nice. We enjoy our lunch, talked about the interview, and prayed that I would get the job. We both knew in our hearts that it would be the perfect situation for me.

After lunch, we left the downtown area and drove by the skilled nursing facility. It is located right next to the hospital, and it is not too far from downtown. The streets are wide and everything appears to be safe. Again, I knew that if I was not hired, I would be very sad. Everything just seemed to fit what I had said I wanted.

After we had explored the surrounding areas some, my phone rang. Upon looking at the number, I knew that our future was about to go one way or another. The conversation went something like this:

"Hello, Abby!"

"Hi! How are you?"

"I'm good. Are you still exploring the area?"

"Yes!" (a little too excitedly)

"Do you think you could get used to it?"

"Yes!" (again, with too much enthusiasm)

"Good, because we just made our decision. It was a unamimous. You are the perfect fit for our team. We would like for you to be our SLP."

"Oh, my gosh! Thank you so much!"

More was said after this, but I was too excited to remember it all. Andrew said my face was bright red, and I was fighting back the tears while trying to stay professional. I was told that my acceptance letter would be sent to me that evening, and we hung up the phone after she told me again how excited they were to have me.

I knew that they were a perfect fit for ME, but I was honored to hear that they feel like I am a perfect fit for them!

When we arrived home after purchasing more moving boxes (yes, it's that time again!), my offer was in my inbox. I signed and returned it. Andrew and I continued to discuss what a great opportunity it was... and how God's hand has been in it from the very beginning.

June 15, 2011: Wednesday

I received a phone call from the administrator who interviewed me. She called just to say how excited she was to hear that I had accepted the position. She also said that the timing was just perfect for both of us. My paperwork will be in the mail soon, and they are going to take responsibility for much of what needs to be done to complete my clinical fellowship year!

Today, I am so thankful for the amazing opportunity God has set before me. I know he had to be laughing when I was frantically mailing my resume and cover letter, because he had something so much better in mind. I am now an employee of a great company- and I am so thankful that we will not have to relocate to another state for me to fulfill my CFY requirements. It's a perfect situation, and we are so thankful.

Now... I need to start packing! We have 20 days to find a home, pack, and relocate before I begin my new career! Thank you for taking the time to read this if you did. It was long, but I have had so many people congratulating me and asking for more details, that I thought it would be easiest to share this way. Thank you for all of your prayers and support.

God is GOOD!

Beer Bread: Simple and Tasty

I have been craving beer bread for a couple of weeks now, and we finally had a can of beer in the house. So, I decided that chili and beer bread would make a nice, tasty meal for Andrew's return home.

This recipe is so simple, and it's really, really good. I will be making it again soon!

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted

3 teaspoons baking power

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup of sugar

12 ounces beer

1/4 cup butter, melted

Tips:

If you actually have self-rising flour in your house, you can use that. Omit the baking powder and salt if you are using self-rising flour though.

If you want a sweeter bread, add a little more sugar.

It does not matter what kind of beer you use. I like darker beers in beer bread, but I used a light beer for this one. It was still good!

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix dry ingredients and beer

Pour into greased loaf pan

Pour melted butter over dough

Bake for 55 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool.

Tips:

Sifting the flour is a must! Without sifting, the actual bread will be like a hard biscuit. If you do not have a sifter (I used a fine-holed colander), then spoon the flour into the measuring cup a tablespoon at a time. Do not compact your flour.

This bread has a crunchy crust. If you would like a softer crust, mix the butter in with the dough instead of pouring it on top. You will be missing out though.

It is excellent served with honey- try it!

Most of all, enjoy this dense bread!

Weekend Entertainment

Two words: class picture.

A facebook friend added this photo this evening and tagged me in it. I laughed so hard.

I have decided that 4th-6th grade are the most awkward years in a child's life. This picture proves it.

How do you like the teddy bear vest I'm wearing? Yup, that's the embroidered print on it. Bronzes, greens, and creams. What a fashion statement. I guarantee you my jeans went past my belly button and were straight legged. I probably was wearing my black shoes that were a hand-me-down from my grandma. I mean, they went to my ankles, were fake leather, had rubber soles, and were topped off with black laces. That's right, I wore those shoes every day that year. No one could talk me out of it.

Anyway, enjoy! It got a laugh out of me.



Our 1st Anniversary

On Sunday, we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. In a lot of ways, it feels like this year flew by. Sure, when we were apart, the days drug on, but in the large scheme of things, I feel like I was just walking down the aisle to pledge my life to my best friend. We had a wonderful day celebrating our marriage, and we look forward to the many more anniversaries to come!

We began our day by going to church. As I said on facebook, please ignore my hunchback pose. I am not sure what it up with that. Anyway, we enjoyed a very nice sermon preached by our pastor's brother-in-law. It really put a lot of things into perspective for me... such as waiting for God's timing in everything. His plan is so much bigger than we can understand.

After church, we drove to Ithaca to eat at The Boatyard. Yum! Their food is so tasty. They have buffalo chicken egg rolls that make my mouth water. It was delish!

After lunch, we saw this blue heron enjoying his lunch by the river. It was too cool to see one so close. Sadly, I soon scared him off.

We then came back home, exchanged gifts, changed clothes, and left for a nearby state park. This waterfall was so pretty! It is my favorite that I have seen so far.

We then made the trek up this really cool stairway. It looks pretty, but looks are deceiving. This stairway was a booger to climb as it wraps around the hill. I admit, I had to rest at the top.

Andrew was fascinated with these rocks. They were very thin, pretty sharp, and flew like crazy. They're dangerous!

Just another picture of us : ) We love each other, can you tell?

I really liked how the gorge ran along the pathway. It was so pretty! It made for a very relaxing hike.

Us, again, enjoying our anniversary.

I thought this bridge was really cool. Overall, the whole state park was beautiful. We'll be returning when family members start visiting!

It was such a good anniversary! Like I said, we look forward to the many, many more we will celebrate together. It's been a wonderful year, and I am even more in love with my husband than I was when I married him. I wouldn't trade what we have for the world!



Chicken Pot Pie

Let me start by saying, I really enjoy a good pot pie. Now, I grew up eating the frozen ones. They were perfectly acceptable when I was child and didn't realize that I was consuming spongy chicken. Now I cannot get past the concept of fake, frozen chicken. So, I have just not had a pot pie in a long, long time.

Let me also say that I am a huge dork and purchased frozen pie crusts without a top. How can you have a pot pie with no lid? This, too, is unacceptable. I found a super easy, super quick recipe online that was fantastic.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, chilled and diced

1/4 cup ice water

Preparation:

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembled course crumbs. Stir in water a teaspoon at a time until the mixture is cohesive. You may need to get your hands dirty to get all of the flour moist. Form it into a ball and store in the refrigerator for 4 hours.

Remove dough from refrigerator. Roll dough into a 9 inch circle. Viola! You're done!

Now onto the pot pie...

Ingredients:

1/2 pound cubed boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/4 cup sliced celery

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons chopped onion

2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon celery seed

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/3 cup milk
1 nine inch unbaked pie crust

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a large pot, boil the chicken, carrots, peas, corn, and celery for at least 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, over medium heat, cook the onions in butter until they are soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.

Drain chicken and veggie mixture and pour into the pie crust.

Top with hot soup mixture.

Cover with pie crust. Seal edges. Cut away access dough. Put the pie on a baking sheet. Make slits in the dough to allow heat to escape.

Bake at 425 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes.

Cut, serve, and enjoy!



Rewind

In all of the craziness following the move, I had forgotten that I said I would blog about the significant change in the baby robins from one week to the next.

This picture was taken on May 9th. I thought that they were so cute and tiny nestled into their nest like this.

The following pictures were taken May 16th... exactly a week apart.

Andrew noticed that the nest was empty, which was good, because he was going to take it down and clean the house for the next home owners. This made me a bit sad, but I understood. After he had been outside for a while, he came in an excitedly told me he saw one of the babies hopping around the yard, trying to fly. I grabbed my camera and went out.

Isn't he a cute, grumpy little thing? I think his tufts of white feathers are hilarious & the expression he gave me was priceless.

Soon, he joined his sibling. They were hopping around and just enjoying life (and probably trying to get away from the crazy lady with a camera). So cute.

I was amazed at how quickly they grew. They truly looked like robins. I was glad that I got to see them at this stage in their life, and I was also glad that they no longer needed the safety of their nest to survive. I hope their still doing well. I miss all of my wildlife in that tiny yard of mine.