Something for your Saturday

Its a new day, baby.

Thank God for new days!

We were a little too lazy to pull this off today, but Lord willing, tomorrow will be another new day, and I have a hunch it will be a good day for some pumpkin pancakes. =)

I've had a few friends request this recipe lately because it is fall and this sucker is the beez kneez.  My mom made these for me before I left for college, and I've been making them since I moved out of the house.  When the Hubs spies them on the griddle he goes weak in the knees.  If there's bacon in the microwave, the man's done gone.  The Hubs loves him some bacon and pumpkin pancakes.  Newbie's a big fan too.  If I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one thing with me, I'd bring pumpkin pancakes.  Maybe not really.  But, then again, maybe.

You just can't go wrong with this recipe.

I'm sorry to say I'm not sure where it originated so I can't give credit where credit is due.  My apologies to the pumpkin genius out there who invented this autumn bombshell.



Here she blows in all her glory:  you'resoverywelcome!

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups Bisquick
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
1/2 cup solid packed pumpkin
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (I use olive)
2 eggs (Remember you can use 1 Tablespoon flax meal and 3 Tablespoons water as an egg substitute!)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Wear a cute apron over your pajamas.

Light an autumn candle.

Make the coffee.  (Let yourself have cream this time if you're on the Bob Harper Skinny Rules plan and have been depriving yourself for the past month.  Today warrants cream.  I won't tell him if you don't.)

Whisk all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

Pour onto griddle in 1/4 cup plops.

Cook through, then flip.

Serve topped with Cool Whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Tastes best on Saturday mornings.  Just saying.  The Hubs would like to add that bacon completes the meal, but I'd argue that bacon just completes the Hubs and that the pancakes can stand alone in radiance.  Tomato, tomahhhhto.

Here's where I try and dig through the archives to find a picture of these pancakes I'm raving about.  And I totally can't find any pictures because we've switched computers and I'm incompetent.  Which is an absolute buzz kill since I'm posting the recipe.

Instead I found some gems from Newbie's first fall.  And I'm his momma, so there's no way I can end this post without sharing them.  They aren't pumpkin pancakes, but they are equally delicious!

(Babies in diapers on Saturday mornings are the rolliest polliest delight!  If you've got 'em, squeeze 'em!)

(I want to pinch those cheeks. I just pinched the two year old version of them to satisfy the urge.  He was less than impressed.)

(Oh my gosh.  Chubby baby dressed like a puppy and eating leaves?  I'm gone.)

(Newbie: "Yook at me!  Yook at me, I'm wight dere.  I'm wearing a bang-bang ducks shirt!")

Go make you and yours some pancakes, and Happy Weekending!

Keeping it Real.

I'm "shopping" for Jubilee's headstone online today and it sucks.

It really does.

I can't see the screen through the tears, but I'm doing it online because there's only one thing worse than online headstone shopping, and that's in-store headstone shopping.

I have put it off forever because I knew it wouldn't be fun.  I put it off because its a big deal and I haven't had the energy to put into it because I knew it was going to be hard.  I knew it was going to be a challenge to find something that was just for her.

And you know what?  I was right.

Because there's nothing pretty enough or good enough.

Because headstones aren't for babies.

Because you can't fit her story onto a piece of stone.

For all those reasons and a thousand more, its hard.

But we need one.

So its a deep breath, and its eyes closed, and its putting my heart and my hand in His and trusting that somehow, some way, He's going to lead me through it, and we'll pick one and it will be perfect and the tears will turn to peace.

...even there Your hand will guide me,
    Your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:10

Last Year and Another Note

***update at the bottom of this post

I am remembering today, much like I was last year.

This year is a little different in that I even better understand the truth I wrote one year ago today: "...even in the midst of loss and uncertainty, God is always good and always right and loves us deeper than we will ever know.  "

I didn't know then what I know now- that just a few weeks later I would become pregnant with a precious baby girl whom I'd have to say goodbye to only seven (way-too) short months later.  But the truth is, my experience with Jubilee makes that truth I wrote about this time last year all the sweeter- because now I really know. I've been to the pit and back, and I know God is always good and always right and that He does love us deeper than we'll ever know.  

So I'm remembering today- both September 11 and the truth of God's goodness despite circumstances.  

An enormous thank you to the police men and women, firefighters, service men and women, and others who give so much each day for us and our country.  Thank you thank you thank you from my heart and my home team.

******

On another note, potty training.  

I know, not exactly compatible with this post, but I've gotta document things in real time from this side of the insanity because right now I'm not convinced I'll ever get to the other side.  The diaper-free, accident-free, "I'm a big boy now" side, and if I do, I want to know where we came from, man.  

Because right now, all I want to do is line my house with tarps, curl up in the fetal position, and send his daddy an SOS.  

Potty training is INTENSE.  The timer set for every half hour, continual refills on the apple juice, and a panic-stricken mama any time the well is dry after the timer goes off because hello, TICKING TIME BOMB.  

So far, no accidents, but I'm going to need some chocolate.  Its entirely possible that Mommy ends up giving herself more than one "potty treat" by the time bedtime rolls around tonight because this is some seriously hard work!  I've resolved to stick to it for today and tomorrow and then if we're still fighting the craziness, we'll probably throw in the towel, declare it too soon, and try again in a couple months.  Because honestly more than two or three days of this level of commitment and I'm going to go bonkers.

But we are set up for success. We went all out on the accessories.  Let him pick his own underwear?  Check.  Pixar it is. Buy a couple super-padded training pants to hide under said underwear so I don't have to actually line my house in tarps?  Check.  Potty chart? Check. (Thanks, Trudy.  I'm inspired by the fact that both your girls are potty trained and used the chart- I'm hoping there's some magic left in it. [fingers crossed]) Pep talk from the Hubs declaring everybody gets potty-trained at some point and somehow, some way, you're gonna make it, kid?  Check.  Thanks, Hubs.  

So we're all hands on deck over here today, folks.  Its GAME TIME.

(Everything is more successful in a Buzz Lightyear shirt, duh.)

And a very happy Tuesday to you!

***UPDATE: I feel like I'd be living a lie if I didn't update tonight and tell you that potty training was a MASSIVE FLOP.  [insert gasp(!) here] Turns out I should have checked into the "When is your toddler ready to potty train?" list before jumping on the bandwagon at the first sign of interest in the big boy potty.  Wah wah waaaaah. Major mom fail.  We're missing a few key "readiness signs" so we're going to take it nice and easy and put the all-or-nothing plan on hold after a stressful day and try again in another couple of months.  Even the Buzz Lightyear shirt couldn't save us, folks.  I really jumped the gun on this one.  That's what I get for blogging in real time!  Shoulda waited 'til tomorrow to spill the beans on the potty training and spared myself the walk of shame back to the blog to confess my premature enthusiasm!  =)  

A Heads-Up

Today I'm writing with a public service announcement...

(I'm still pretty cranky about the whole thing.)

It happened Thursday night when I was out to dinner with my mom and sister.  We ordered some wine, and the waitress brought the bottle to the table.  After she set the bottle down, I looked down at my menu then heard a BANG! and realized everything was out of focus because my glasses had gone crooked on my face.  Then I saw the blood, and shut my eyes for the next 45 minutes while the restaurant bustled, my sister and mom reassured me it was ok while keeping pressure on the throbbing gash, I cried, and the ER doctor glued me up.

There was blood everywhere.  My mom and sister told me later that it soaked through two cloth napkins and surely ruined everyone's dinner at the sight of our table that evening in the restaurant. After looking at the bottle, we realized the cork never even left the mouth of the bottle.  The thing straight up exploded out the side.  The glass hit me in the head with enough force to continue on from my head to hit the floor under the table next to us.  It left a gaping hole in the side of the wine bottle.

All the way to the ER I cried because what the heck, man?  All I wanted was some chicken alfredo.  I was real shook up and continued to be through the next few days because the truth is, God's grace is the only thing that kept that glass from going through my glasses and hitting my eye.

Also, I cried because there was blood everywhere and we were in the middle of the restaurant.  I was that girl, the one who everyone was looking at and talking about as she was hurried out of the restaurant and management rushed to cover up the ordeal in my wake.

The whole thing was slightly traumatic.  I don't want to dramatize it as more frightening than it was, but the truth is, it was a really bizarre and dangerous situation, and I don't want it to happen to anyone else.

I debated writing about it at all, so the morning after it happened, I wrote up a little something that reflected my feelings on the whole thing, unsure if I'd ever post it or not.  Then we met with an attorney this morning to do what we could to be sure it didn't happen to anyone else, and that's when we found out the only realistic way to be sure this doesn't happen again is to shout it from the rooftops because all the world wants is money and the case wouldn't really go anywhere without lots of money to front the operation and that's lots of money the Hubs and I don't have.  So here's my feeble attempt to make sure nobody else is the recipient of an exploding wine bottle to the face:

Stay away from Seven Daughters Moscato.

Seriously.

All I have to do is imagine how I'd feel if Newbie had been at that table when the thing blew and homegirl gets real, real angry.  As in, can't even think about it angry. So if you're a vino fan, do yourself a favor and steer clear of Seven Daughters wine company.

And pass me another bandaid because this sucker is gnarly.

The bottom line is, I am so blessed because what could have been severely traumatic ended up being a cut on the forehead that will heal over time.  I'm fine, and I thank God for that.

But please tell your friends, because they sell the stuff at Target and serve it at restaurants, and I desperately want to spare others the pain of what could potentially happen.

No Seven Daughters.  Tell your friends.

Over and out.

Bears and Picnics and Budgies, Oh my!

A September Saturday at the zoo is one of the best kinds of September Saturdays.

All morning we heard, "I lub an-mals.  I weawy lub an-mals.  I weawy do.  I weawy lub an-mals.  Yots and yots." 

(I love watching him watch his world.)

(Petting zoos give me the heebie jeebies, but I thought I'd be depriving him of some serious childhood thrills if we opted out of taking him.)

(They had a play area made entirely of fallen trees.  It was a little boy's wonderland.)

(Hey, Newbie!  Whatever you do, DO NOT look at the camera when Daddy tries to take a picture.  Thankyouverymuch. =])

("BANG! BANG, ducks!"  ...his hunter of a daddy has him trained to BANG BANG any duck he sees.  Being the Bambi lover that I am, I can't say I'm proud, but I will admit that it is pretty cute. This kid is all boy.)

(Another result of my fear of depriving him of cheap childhood thrills...the budgie house.  I hate aviaries because there's always the chance of the unwelcome splat compliments of the constantly feasting feathered friends.  But I took one for the team.  Still, BIRDS EVERYWHERE.)

Happy weekending!

Morning

I love mornings.

A "sparrow," my dad used to call me.

Its days like these I'm thankful I'm an early bird, because I wouldn't want to miss his little bedhead or those sleepy eyes for the world.

("CHEESE, Mom!")

(Always on the move.  Even in the AM.)

(An early morning goodbye to his daddy)

("No, Daddy you not need it go to werk." ...makes it hard for Daddy to leave!)

(Don't worry about him too much- thanks to PBS.org, he bounces back pretty quick.)

Hello, Wednesday.

Septembering

We're Septembering this week.

It's back to school in these parts, and all the backpacks and cameras and littles waving from wagons is a reminder that time goes by too fast and we've got to do everything we can to make each moment of Newbie's little years count.  All too soon he'll be the one waving in front of a too-big-backpack off to new adventures. So we're Septembering and soaking up every last drop, baby.

We've got a front row seat to the school bus stop, and Newbie loved watching the big yellow bus from the window today. Something about all the back-to-school of this week just begs for routine and order and ABC's and "Wheels on the Bus" and a roast in the oven.

And its time.  Because we lived hard this weekend and enjoyed every last dwindling bit of summer, including but not limited to...

Getting a new bike:

A brownie batter licking fiesta:
(Sidenote: Did you know you can use a tablespoon of ground flax mixed with three tablespoons of water to substitute for an egg?!?  Its my go-to lick-this-batter-without-contracting-salmonella trick. ;)

And a backyard campout:

(Helping Daddy put in the stakes.  "I need it my hammer, Daddy.")

(Pretty flowers are still blooming in Jubilee's garden!  Did you know sister has a garden?  She does. I'll write about it sometime.)

We kissed summer goodbye with a backyard camping, hot dog feasting, s'mores roasting end-of-summer party.  Just me and my people, and it was a good time. Newbie was a huge fan of helping his daddy pitch the tent and munching down the campfire goodies.  Brother loves "chalk-it" (chocolate), so the s'mores were a win.

We sent summer off with a bang, and are welcoming the change in seasons.  Because I'm learning that change is hard, but change is good.

Which brings us to September.

September is my pull-it-together, Francine.  Its my get-out-of-the-maternity-pants, teach that boy some ABC's, walk around the neighborhood every night, plan some wicked delicious dinners, sign up for Bible study, steal away for some date nights, send Newbie off to "big boy church", host a dinner party, come right on outta that hole, month.  And I'm really looking forward to it.


This summer was delicious and sweet in its own, soft, sunshiny, carpe diem way, but after losing Jubilee and spending the summer blindly stumbling my way through my first experience with deep grief, I'm craving getting back into the game.  Routine.  Library visits.  Walks.  Football.  Dinner.  You know, the usual. =)

My heart is still sad and aching, that's just a part of it, but I'm looking forward to the next season of healing.  Which I'm kicking off with a roast in the oven, fall decorations, and an exciting trip at the end of September.

Want to hear about it?  It so totally rocks.

My sweet friend's mama and aunt have hugely blessed me with the gift of a weekend away in Washington to attend a Love and Loss Conference. A weekend away across the country to get for real and dig into my heart and the hearts of other women and just love and be loved.  Whaaat?!  I can't tell you how excited I am to sneak away for a bit and spend time with my heart and other women who have been there.  And my laptop.  Bring on the writing, baby.  I can't wait to sort through the billions of thoughts I've held onto since May 2.  I have so much to share, and my fingers are ready to tap it out on the keys. I'm also looking forward to the in-flight Coke (I'm of the opinion that a Coke tastes the best when you're up in the clouds) and the reading time on the plane, but that's just a bonus. =)  A massive THANK YOU to fun Aunt J and D for the incredible gift!  xoxo

So friends, here's to September- the back-to-schooling, the squirrels and acorns, the trips to the library, the enormous bounty of pumpkin spice donuts and cream cheese icing, the routine, the everything- to all the beauty of a new season and another step forward.

Let the Septembering begin!

(Cheers!)