Wow, what full hands you have!

Bobby is a magnificent father! He is so natural with the kids, it appears so easy for him so much of the time that I am actually jealous. However, on occasion he has the awkward moments that make me feel slightly less laughable.

While finishing up at the doctors the other day, I asked him to take Elijah and Addie’s car seat out to the car and get the stroller, so we could walk around the shopping center. He took Elijah by the hand and picked up the car seat-note that he didn’t have Addie, her baby-bag, or a purse to carry! As I sat back (feeding Addie) and with pure delight watched as he tried to figure out what hand was supposed to open the door. Knowing he still had 2 more doors and a car door to open this way, I tried to hold back most of my laughter. He turned and looked at me saying “I’m just not used to it.” I told him there is no getting used to it, unless you figure out how to grow an extra arm.

Later that day we were at HEB and Addie had gotten fussy so I took her out of the seat, carrying around the extra 17 pounds of Her Chunkiness, my back got sore by the end. I handed Addie to Bobby, who had been pushing the cart, saying “hold her for a minute” then I started walking, went into the next aisle, waited and he never came. I walked back and he was still standing where I had left him with Addie and the cart. I asked “are you coming?” He replied that he couldn’t push the cart while holding a baby too. My bad, I didn’t think about taking the cart when I handed Addie off, however, 50% of the time when I am shopping without Bobby, I am holding Addie and pushing the cart at the same time.

Along with seeing that, I heard a woman tell Bobby for the first time “looks like you have your hands full”, I loathe that comment as it is all I hear when shopping with the kids, and he knows it. Even when they are being perfect angels I still get told that, really like you telling me that is going to make it any easier. I have begun replying with “that’s what I hear”. For those (now hundreds) of people who have told me that, yes, sometimes I have my hands not just full but overflowing, but that is how God chose to bless me, and I am overwhelmingly grateful for my blessings, even on the “bad” days. I have one absolutely handsome marvelous husband, three beautiful, adorable, silly, rascally kids, and one I will get to meet in Heaven. A roof over my head and a mess under my feet. If the only cost to me is my hands being full, I will take it!

Retail Therapy, the drug of choice!

Shopping is an amazing thing. We go on shopping trips for fun with our friends, we go for “retail therapy” when we have had a bad day, we go just to get out, we go “for exercise.” For some it can be completely frustrating and over whelming, for others a way to relax and unwind, and for a few a drug. A drug that makes them giddy and excited, and they gotta get more! I used to fall into the third category, then after realizing that same as cash really meant same as double the cash, I quit cold turkey. Then after producing my litter of munchkins, I fell into the first. Seriously, have you ever taken 3 kids shopping?! Even when out of tp, it’s just not worth the trip! I would go in a store for 2 items and leave an hour later with 2 of the kids crying and the other one whining.

Our shopping excursions since Addie’s birth have been spread out as far as possible. When I do make it into Target-for example, I get what I need and get out(4 bathroom trips later), no funny business! Last week I had the pleasure of going with Bobby to Target, he took Elijah and I went off with Addie.Then, I realized they had new merchandise! I had not seen anything new in months, I wondered through each aisle in amazement and awe! So many pretty things, “Look at the bedding, we could use new bedding” “oh wow, these dishes, they are so pretty” ”that frame! I need new frames for the kids photos” “Oh! Baby clothes! Ruffle butts!!!” the list goes on…My experience was probably similar to that of a foreigner going shopping in America, “wow look at all this stuff-ShamWOW, with a name like that I must need one! A salad fork, and a dinner fork, I never knew you need 2 kinds of forks!” It was like retail love at first sight all over again! “Sigh”. It wasn't until I got home, that I realized I had been to Target numerous times, with all of that fabulous merchandise looking at me, and I never saw it-and I am a pretty observant person!

Then again at Hobby Lobby, the colors, the fabrics, flowers and ribbon. I can’t afford to go shopping with Bobby, because then I see what is right in front of me, begging for my attention-as it is supposed to, seeing as experts are highly paid to find a way to display each item for the highest monetary gain-and I want it, I drool over it. I can touch it and picture where it would look best, and in my fantasy of the new table cloth the kids are being perfect angels, so I must get it now! Now! NOW! Because the sale won’t last right!? This, my friends is retail therapy…we see, we want, we imagine a perfect world, and then we buy.

I think from now on I will go shopping only with all 3 kids, or at least the 2 youngest, so I only see what I need, and save 100’s of dollars every month, it just might be worth the cost, being my sanity of course!

Dumplin's namesake!

I always assumed everyones favorite dish would be the harder ones to make. Bobby's favorite dinner is Chicken and Dumplins, and I assumed it was just him. Until my family came to visit from Tennessee, my brothers one request was Chicken and Dumplins! Seriously? I make a mean European Mocha Fudge Torte, and a Garlic, herb, and cheese stuffed chicken (Chicken Bundles of Love-as they are known in our family) that is to die for (it is how I got my husband after all)...but Chicken and Dumplins was the only request! I was glad though seeing as I was feeding 8 instead of the usual 4. When my mom left she even asked for the recipe! Most of my recipes come from my moms book, so I was pleasantly surprised. This recipe is so good we nick named Addalene Dumplin'! One of the best parts is the way the soup turns into more of a gravy, yum!

Chicken and Dumplin's

1/2 stalk Celery

1 med/small Onion

4-6 Carrots

Garlic (half bulb)

Chives (optional)

Chop/dice all of the above

Chicken

1 ½ Tbl Olive oil or butter

Chicken bullion

Garlic salt to taste

Italian seasoning-A LOT (keep in mind it’s a soup so it takes more seasoning)

Drop biscuit dough (from scratch is best) or a can of biscuit dough (Drop biscuit recipe follows)

Put chicken in a minimal amount of water-so it covers the chicken by about ¼ to ½ inch add olive oil or butter and bullion then boil til chicken is done (the oil and less water keep the chicken from getting chewy or dry). Keep the stock (water) but remove the chicken, add all the veggies and if necessary add more water so all the veggies move can freely. Add Italian Seasoning and begin boiling while chopping or shredding chicken, add chicken back to soup and continue boiling until the carrots are tender. Taste and add garlic salt as needed (I use Low sodium bullion but I don’t put much garlic salt still-also if using canned dough use less salt because the dough is salty) After seasoning bring to a full rolling boil then drop dough in by spoonfuls slowly (if you go to fast it will cool off the water so it is no longer boiling), after 2 minutes turn over the dumplin’s and let cook another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and enjoy (if you continue to let it boil the dumplins will fall apart)

Drop Buiscuits are yummy with butter and honey, like your great great grandmother made, or use the dough for Dumplins!

Drop Biscuits
1 3/4 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening or canola oil
1 cup milk

mix all ingredients.
For biscuits drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet. bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 8 large biscuits. They are done when the peaks are a deep golden brown.

How hungry? So so so hungry!

I was told I would be thirsty not hungry! I grew up knowing breastfeeding makes one thirsty, unquenchably thirsty, and its true, there are days I drink 10-12 cups of water, but the hunger? I was not warned about! The 500 extra calories recommended for proper "production" doesnt come close to the amount desired!

The first couple months, there really wasn't a change in my appetite. Then 3 months hit with the bang of a fat man plopping down onto a old wooden chair! I didn't link it to breastfeeding until last week, I kept wondering what was making me SO hungry. I didn't step near the scale-well the Wii Fit (get with the times already!) for about 6 weeks, knowing I had eaten more than the average African...elephant that is! Finally I decided yesterday that to be motivated to stay away from the kitchen I had to hear and see the bad news-then I jumped for joy when I saw no significant difference.

This is an all consuming hunger, it is not a craving. There is no specific food you have to have immediately, maybe sweet, salty, or a burger but nothing specific. In general you just want food, any food within reach, and NOW. And lots of it!

Pregnant women are known for their cravings that drive them to crazy acts of desperation, but why dont you hear about the lactating women? Today I heard an ice cream truck outside-now for a little history, I dont let my kids get ice cream from the roach coach vans with irritating music, EVER!-yet today when I heard the did-die I jumped from the couch ran to Bobby's dresser grabbed a handful of change and ran outside, only to see it was too late. I slumped back in the house as if I had just been told Elvis really is dead, fist full of change and arm full of Addie and her plumpness. I then headed to the kitchen and stared longingly into the quiche that was waiting on the oven, knowing I could finish it off and make an entire new dinner without anybody knowing, and I would still be hungry enough to eat with the family.

I finally felt so crazy I Googled it today(as any responsible adult would) and found a plethora of milk machine mamas saying the same thing. I AM NORMAL AFTER ALL! So maybe next time I am trying with all my might to not go bake up a good size Baptist Bake Sale, for myself, I will go for it in small proportions and not feel so guilty.

A Few Shots from Addalene's 4 Month Pictures

More Elijah, And 4 Steps To A Clean House

Elijah makes for great stories!
We got a crib for Addie last week (finally, she has way outgrown the bassinet) and Bobby decided to put it together in the living room...so I could later take it apart and put it back together in our room?...and we had to leave it there until we (I) could rearrange the furniture in the bedroom. Elijah took the opportunity to enjoy it as his very own climbing wall. One particular day he was enjoying climbing on the crib while in underwear as Chloe crawled underneath it, and then he decided he didn't want to stop to use the potty, so he peed-with Chloe underneath him! I'm not gonna lie I had to leave the room to laugh before coming back to clean it. Chloe wasn't as mortified as I thought she would be, he only got her arm.
Elijah loves going potty with someone else. When I was on my way into the bathroom the other day, he was coming to join me, then ran out yelling "phone! phone! phone!" and before I could reply he came in, chest puffed up, showing my his phone-a calculator! He proceeded to sit on his froggy potty and play with his phone, just like Daddy (well minus the froggy part)!
We were given a couch yesterday! I think we may have been the only people desperate enough to move a sectional down from the third story of an apartment, but that's okay, I like my new couch :) While we were moving it into our house, I carried in a piece and found Elijah had gotten parts of my breast pump and he was pumping the couch...maybe trying to vacuum?

How to get your house clean in a 4 easy steps
Step 1: Stay up all night taking care of teething, or otherwise very cranky baby.
Step 2: When you get up in the morning, be very angry about life in general, slam a few things around for good measure.
Step 3: After breakfast go to do dishes and bang a few more around. Remembering not to talk to anyone unless you use a grumpy voice and use as few words as possible.
Step 4: Glare at your husband and let him know that until "the procedure" you will be taking a vow of celibacy.
About then he should start running around cleaning (without you asking! :) ) and demanding that the kids clean too!
No joke my house went from disaster area to clean enough for visitors in 5 minutes flat! And all I had to do was the dishes.

Just wondering as I wander

Sometimes I wonder how I got to where I am today. In a good way though. There are moments where it hits me that I am an adult with responsibilities, it just comes natural, doing day to day things, I dont even think about where the time has gone. (to the past duh!) But I just laid down with Chloe for a few minutes and I felt small again (maybe because she is almost as tall as me now) and it hit! "I'm married! I have 3 kids?! When did it all happen?" God has blessed me tremendously with an amazing husband who loves us dearly and takes care of us, and 3 wonderful (crazy)kids! And it has gone by in the blink of an eye, and yet it feels like it goes by faster everyday. *sigh*
Anyhow...
I went outside to do laundry (in the shed)this morning, before the invading wasps had a chance to wake up, and I got to hear what my house sounds like to all our neighbors...and I am surprised the cops haven't been called on us yet! Elijah learned about 3 weeks ago, how to scream like a 14 year old girl in a Bieber concert. A high pitch, ear piercing, blood curling scream! All you have to do is look at him wrong and he lets one loose! I gotta give it to him, he gets your attention with it. He is doing very well potty training...when he wants to. He went all day without an accident after only 9 days of starting. He went potty earlier today while I was feeding Addie, I asked Chloe to make sure he didn't get into anything and a moment later she yelled "MOM! he put the rug in the toilet!"...Sorry Addie, you will have to eat later.
Chloe goes back to school in 10 days, I will miss her and she is so helpful. I cant figure out what she is going for...she has been behaving really well the last few weeks and doing "my" chores without me asking her to even help.
Chloe told me awhile back, "Addie is SO wonderful, she is half you and half Jesus!" They are both wonderful. Addie watches things way to closely...alot like her sister when she was a baby...scary!