Peter Peter

Yesterday the ever great hostess Karen threw a pumpkin themed party. We all brought something made from pumpkin- some more traditional than others- and ate to our hearts content. As I name them, you can think of Bubba from Forrest Gump when he was naming all the different types of shrimp:
pumpkin pie
pumpkin soup
pumpkin ice cream
pumpkin stuffing
pumpkin chili*
pumpkin spice fruit dip
pumpkin tortelini
pumpkin cake-thingy
pumpkin cheesecake

I am sure I am leaving a few things off, but it was all delish! I am normally not a huge pumpkin fan, but it was so fun to be festive and a great reason to get together with the ladies.
Thanks!

*I made the pumpkin chili, so I thought I would share the recipe:
1.5 lbs ground beef
1+ c. canned pumpkin - if you want it more "pumpkiny" add another 1/2 c.
2 cans kidney beans
1 large diced yellow onion
1.5 15 oz canned stewed tomatoes
1 T chili powder
1 T sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup diced mushrooms
1 bay leaf

Brown the meat and diced onions and place in a slow cooker. Add everything else (so technical, huh?) and turn the slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours stirring every 30minutes. SO EASY!! If you dont have a slow cooker, simmer it for an hour over the stove.

I finally caught it.

I have been chasing my runny nose for the past week. I'm so glad I finally caught it. Now Joel is chasing his. Poor guy. Atleast he can take something for his.

Surprise!

If you know me, you know that I love surprises(who doesn't?) but am usually pretty good at sensing they're coming and spoil them before they happen. Well, today I was completely taken for a ride! My sweet co-workers threw me a surprise baby shower. I have never had a surprise party before, so it was extra special and fun! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. Infact, I had just worked out (still sweaty) and was in the middle of my "annual review" when the manager came up and asked me to go in the back for a second. I walked in to the conference room- full of people, balloons, gifts and food-and still didn't know what was going on. It finally hit me that all this was for ME and I started bawling. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! We are so lucky to have such great friends here.

More to love

Without further ado, I present to you my belly! We've just entered the 3rd trimester and it's hard to believe that he can and will get much bigger! We get more excited as each day passes and feel very fortunate to be able to be his parents.

Nesting.

I never thought this would happen to me, but I am indeed, making my "nest". I keep thinking that if I am going to be home with the babe alot, I better like my home.

Just another project...


And, it was done on a budget!
apothecary jar:$12
frames: $1 each
letters: $1 each
candy corn: $4

Brutally. honest.

At work yesterday I was chatting with another female trainer and she asked how I was feeling.
I replied, "Feeling well, just chubby".
She, be the kind soul that she is, said, "You must feel worse than you look."
Then, not two seconds later a male trainer (who I havent seen in a couple of weeks) walked by, having no idea what we were saying and said, " Wow, you're getting BIG!"

Who would you believe? I go with the man. Brutal, but Honest.

Pics to come this weekend!

** After a few comments, I want to clarify that I am NOT feeling sorry for myself. I just wanted to point out how men and women handle similar situations so differently.

Just call me...

Becky Home-ecy!
I had never heard that term until today, and I laughed so hard. One of my clients called me that when she asked me what I did over the weekend and I told her I got a "craft bug". If you really know me, you'll know that name is far from the truth, but it was kind of fun and now I am thinking of what else I can do!

This is the old...what attracted me to this in the first place? I have no idea.

This is the new:
Just scrapbook paper and some decoupage. I thought it was going to be a little brighter, but for it will work for fall! I made another one with too and they're hung in our dining "area".

My hooter hider, aka nursing cover. I actually made this a couple of weeks ago, but never posted it. Of course, now that I finally have boobs I have to keep them covered!

I got this ledge as a wedding gift and never used it, but found it when I cleaned out our closets a month or so ago. Since the whole miscarriage thing(in Dec), we have a greater understanding and appreciation for the word FAITH in our home. Cliche as it is, I like it. I bought some wooden letters, painted them, and attached them to damask scrapbook paper. Viola. I hung this in our bedroom.

Kids say the darndest things

Last night at activity days(a group of 8-11 yr old girls from church) one of my sweet girls came up and started telling me how her mom is pregnant and how she is sooo excited to be a big sister. I mentioned that I will be having a baby too- as if its not completely obvious at this point! She went on to say," Oh, I thought you were pregnant, but most pregnant women I know have fat arms, so I wasnt sure."

Hmm, most pregnant women I know have big bellies! But fat arms, that's a first!