Baby Bean Update

We had an ultrasound yesterday. Only sort of unexpected. I've been measuring small for the thirty one weeks that we are and my midwife wanted to be sure Baby Bean was growing big and strong. She is. Praise God!
If you've never seen a baby this far along through an ultrasound it's a whole other world! She's so big and strong. Her hands and feet were up in her face and, because she was wiggling around so much, we caught only a quick glimpse of her face {which is way more than we saw at twenty weeks}.
I couldn't be more excited to meet her now. Of course I want her to stay in a while longer to grow bigger and stronger but today I saw her little fingers that will one day wrap around mine and her chubby toes that will soon pitter-patter down the hall.
My breath was taken away today as I had a chance to see what only God sees on a daily basis. It's such a comfort to know that, even now, He holds her in His tender hands and knows her by name. I can't wait to get to know the girl He already loves so much.

{image from TensionNot}

{Homemade Glazed Donuts}

Using this recipe from The Pioneer Woman I made some deliciously light and fluffy donuts which were so irrisitible that I ate too many.
Yes, as an almost-28-year-old-woman with 2.5 kids I ate too many sweets and got a tummy ache. 
Sad.
But true.
I encourage you to try these for yourself and enjoy them to your heart's delight.
But I caution you... have several others on hand to help you eat them.
You've been warned.

Potty Training . Oh Boy!

Potty Training

Are we ready? 

Well, do we have...

One excited little guy who's ditching the diapers for good... check!

Adorable underwear with little man's favorite characters... check! 

 "Boo Juice" picked out by said little guy to keep things "flowing"... check!

 Snacks hand-picked by very same little guy for rewards... check!

We are using "1-2-3 Potty" which is a Gary Ezzo book (one of the author's of BabyWise). To keep it simple, Ezzo suggests the method of rewarding dryness by asking, as needed, your little guy/gal to check themselves. If they are dry and clean when you ask, they get a small treat. In our case its a pretzel M&M or a cheese ball. His method also has mommy/daddy put them on the potty as needed {with CJ we go first thing in the morning, right after his nap, about 45 minutes after meals,  if he has had lots to drink: every 10 to 20 minutes, and if he has taken it easy on the drinks: every hour}. If they do "go" in the potty, they get a "double reward" or, in our case, half a pack of gummy snacks. If not, we congratulate the effort and try again in a few minutes, again, depending on drink consumption. *Right now we are sticking with Pull Ups for nap and night time. He usually wakes dry but, with this bulging belly I'm strutting around, I can barely make his bed so I'm not taking a risk at this point.

Day 1: We had far more successes than accidents,16:4, which is great! He only asked to go four times and the rest of those times were by my prompting. {Miss Mak was very clingy and whiney which made everything seem harder. Thankfully Hubs took her out for lunch and Oma took her after her afternoon nap until bathtime. Thank the Lord for support!}

Day 2: Once again, most of the potty visits were my prompting based on how much he drank and when he last had a meal. He had his first "number 2" since we started training and I was able to catch it so it was in the potty. Yay! We celebrated with a call to Daddy. The second "poo" of the training wasn't caught in time and was in his underpants.{This has been a day that makes me wonder why I didn't wait longer to start this whole thing but I've been assured by Sweet Hubs that he is ready and it's only day two. I've been amazed at how discouraging an accident can be.}
My question, at this point, is "what does life look like for the next few weeks?" Are he and I bound to the house and to the potty chair? What is the means to the end? I assume that no accidents is a wise goal but it feels as though maybe our plan should be something more like getting CJ to tell me when he has to go with enough warning to make it to the potty. But... that doesn't mean we'll be accident free from here on out. So what am I looking for?

Day 3:  NO ACCIDENTS! Am I excited? You betcha! CJ played outside while Daddy boiled maple sap. The "little potty" was parked within a few feet of the evaporator. {I wish now that I had taken a picture.} We even took a trip to Home Depot. I packed up the "little potty", put it in the car and tried in a parking lot but he ended up using the public potty. Another victory!
I've come to realize something... potty training while pregnant isn't so bad. I have to go as often as he does so I remember to check with him and we often go together. "Hello, Silver Lining"!

* The "little potty" we use is a Baby Bjorn. I purchased a much less expensive one from WalMart but it felt so flimsy once I got it home. It also had several moving parts so I returned it. I read lots of reviews and ended up settling on this one. It's simple, only has one part that is removable for rinsing and I like that it has a comfortable back for long sittings. I'm sure other potties work just fine but this one has worked great for us.

Day 4:  Sunday. That means church. We had one accident in the morning before church but was good to go for the rest of the day. We stopped pumping him full of fluids so he goes a lot less often which makes keeping track of it much easier. I think he's afraid to go "number two" but we weren't aiming for that training yet anyway. We now ask him if he needs to go and take his word when he says "no". If he hesitates or says "yes" then off we go. We also backed off the treats. We really only used them for days 1 and 2. He doesn't ask and we don't offer. So, "Woohoo" for that!

Today is day five...
I'm praying for a continuation of the same.
I'm quite impressed with his progress.
I hear there's a chance of regression.
Dear heavens, I hope not!

Smart Solutions for Little Ones

My sweet friend, Laura {fondly known as "Paige Davis" in my book}, has a couple fantastic ideas for identification that I can't wait to steal for my little ones.
Check those out and other crafty ideas over at Our Portion.

Have a fantastic weekend!
I'll be potty training.
Whoopee.

Maple Syruping {Part 2}

Alright, back again for round 2 of maple syrup production at Trasher Brook Sugar Camp!  

Look, I even have my own fleet of trailers.

The next step in the syruping process is by far the longest. I need to take those 40 gallons of sugar water and boil off enough H₂O that the sugar to water ratio increases, thickening and darkening the liquid until we have syrup. This step really is as exciting as watching water boil, because that is all you’re doing.

This process can be done many ways, but I do it outside, under cover, on my evaporator. An evaporator is really just maple lingo for the stove that you cook the sap on. But unlike a wood stove inside your house, you don’t want this to radiate heat out. You want all the heat to go up and hit the bottom of the pan so that you get the most efficient boil possible.

I have a wood-fired evaporator made out of concrete block that we had laying around the property and some other items that I salvaged from a scrap-metal recycling dumpster. The block is a great insulator and keeps all of my heat inside. I boil on a 2’ x 3’ pan that can hold up to 15 gallons of liquid. On the back of the pan, hovering above the water line is another pot that has cold sap in it. This is my preheater. The steam coming off the big pan heats this pan up, so when I have to add sap, I’m not adding cold sap and killing my boil. When I really get going, I have to add sap every ten minutes or so to replace what has been evaporated.

Right now I can boil off about 7.5 to 8 gallons of water every hour, which is actually pretty good. I’m able to do this for a couple of reasons:

·         The Grate: The wood that’s burning is sitting on a metal grate, about 6 inches off the ground. By doing this I can get oxygen underneath the fire for it to burn hotter.

·         The Stack: The smoke stack for the evaporator goes up through the roof and sticks up farther than the ridgeline of the roof. This allows the wind to blow across it, increasing the draft and making the fire hotter.

·         The Wood: All the wood that I burn is seasoned for at least year, insuring its dryness. I also split it much thinner than you normally would if you had a campfire. The more surface area there is to burn, the hotter the fire will be. I have to add wood to the fire more often this way, but it really increases the heat level.

This might be the longest and most tedious part of the entire process, but for some reason, its my favorite. I get to spend the entire day outside, splitting wood, drinking coffee, and watching water boil. I can try to scheme different ways to get the fire hotter, or the sap to preheat better, or find a better means of storage.  Early spring brings its share of unpredictable weather, so its nice to have something as predictable as wood burning and water boiling in my life. 

That’s it for today. 

Next week: finishing, filtering, and consumption.

 

{Picture Credit}

{Super Healthy Pancakes}

Yes, I've been baking like it's my job and yes, it has all been delicious. But we're counteracting all the yummy sweets that seem to be a product of my baby-girl cravings with lots of fresh fruit and other yummy recipes like this one... {Kelly... this one's for you!}

Oatmeal Pancakes

{Cook This, Not That}

What You'll Need: 

1 1/2 c buttermilk {I substituted Kefir 1:1}

3/4 instant rolled oats

3/4 c whole wheat flour

2 T milk

1 T melted butter

 1 1/2 t baking powder

1/2 t baking soda

pinch of cinnamon, plus 1/8 t for apple topping

pinch of nutmeg

1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped

1/2 c apple juice

2 T brown sugar

butter or cooking spray if using a skillet

confectioners' sugar

What To Do:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the buttermilk, oats, flour, milk, butter, baking powder, baking soda, pinch of cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to gently combine, then set aside to rest for a few minutes. 

Combine the apples, apple juice, brown sugar, and remaining 1/8 t cinnamon in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook until the apple has softened and the liquid has thickened. 

If you aren't serving immediately, preheat the oven to 200. Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat {I use an electric griddle set at 350}. Adding a bit of butter or cooking spray before each round, scoop 1/4 c portions of batter into the skillet and use a spatula to form in the top of the batter, 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Keep pancakes warm in the oven whil you finish cooking. Serve topped with warm apples and a bit of confections sugar. {You can also skip the sauce and just use butter and/or maple syrup.}

We were surprised at how yummy these were without tasting overly "healthy".

...and if you wanted to see more recipes from the book and how much they save your wallet and waistline, check this out from the Today show.

recipe also seen on 1800 Diet Plan - picture credit

Scripture Music for Kids

The kids are in bed, the dishwasher is running, American Idol is on in the background, and I'm working my way to the bottom of a completely over-indulgent bowl of ice cream whilst checking my Facebook page. I recently posted a question on my Facebook page about Scriptures set to music for kids. I was very much overwhelmed by number of quality responses. Rather than keep them all to myself, I figured I'd share the goods with you.



Seeds of Faith - Seeds of Praise - Seeds of Courage - Seeds of Purpose - The Power of Encouragement - by Seeds Family Worship

Go Fish has put out a lot of albums. I particularly like Kickin' It Old School which is some of the "oldies but goodies" like "Before The Throne of God Above" and "I'll Fly Away"

Ladybug and Great and Small by Butterflyfish

Meet the Rizers byThe Rizers
To Be Like Jesus, Walking With The Wise, and Awesome God by Soverign Grace
Go To The Ant by Judy Rogers
Songs for Saplings by Dana Dirksen
Mary Rice Hopkins
GT and the Halo Express

today is monday.

yup. here i go, stating the obvious again.
i'm sure you know what day it is.
or maybe you're like me and the end of this winter season is getting the best of you and you need the reminder.

up here, in New England, i have been loving all this snow. after living in Virginia for 5 years i began to miss "real" winters.

but it was 50 degrees the other week and over 40 pretty often now which means the mud is coming and i suddenly find myself longing for 70 degree days, green grass, the smell of wet soil, and the first sprouts of new life in our veggie garden. 

we've managed to make it through these months with ease... for the most part.

we've walked through the greenhouse to tire the kids out.

we accepted early on that tv would sometimes be a part of our "getting by" when we can't be outside.

we've made tents and forts of all kinds in all places.

we've played with the kids even more than usual.

call it cabin fever, but i wonder if we did start going a little crazy.

now it's maple season.

that's a big deal around these parts.
sweet hubs starts getting worked up about it on New Years day...

and CJ helps.

this weekend CJ hung out with his dad for a while. stoking the fire, supervising wood splitting, and drinking hot chocolate while bundled in a blanket.
meanwhile, with only 11 weeks to go, the girls and i hung out where it was nice and warm.

 

man! my sweet Mak is growing fast!

not quite walking... 

but close. 
i also managed to upgrad my picnik.com membership and have been playing around a little.
nothing fancy, just seeing what all the features do.

and baking.
oh boy, the baking! it's a miracle i'm not as big as a boat... yet.
i've somehow managed to stave off any major sickness. Sweet Hubs had a bad cold one weekend and then a sinus infection the next. {enter neti pot.}

CJ and Mak have both been through the coughs and sniffles but thanks to vitamin c, elderberry syrup, and the grace of God, their illnesses have been mild and quick.

come quickly spring!

Other People's Genius {Stenciling}

Happy Friday! 

Before I share the brilliance of others I wanted to update you from yesterday... I'm not usually a mood-swinger but the past couple of days have been a struggle for me. I could easily blame it on the baby hormones and would probably be at least somewhat correct. However, I can say that it has been to the credit of God, through the wonderful, strong friendships with some beautiful, Godly women in my life, that I am feeling like myself again. You know who you are and I thank you. 

Now! Moving on to the fun stuff... 

Gone are the days of outdated, "countrified" stenciling. Today you can find lots of modern, affordable stencil options for more than just floral or basket-weave borders around your rooms. 

I'm personally a huge fan of the quatrefoil pattern and I particularly love what Shelley from House of Smith's did to her pantry... 

...and there are still more great ideas out there!

stenciled foyer...

HGTV shows you how

how bout some accessories? 

Tatertots & Jello has some ideas

 d.i.y. wall art... and it's custom! 

Little Miss Momma

 flooring? this is just ridiculous!

Under the Sycamore

or... look up instead

 like Not Just A Housewise did via the The Idea Room

you can even customize your clothes!

yay for mankind!
{scarf from How About Orange}

I pray you have a wonderful weekend!

Ugh.

I'm not gonna lie... I'm exhausted.

 

I'm sure, by now you're tired of hearing me complain about being tired.
I don't mean to whine.
I'm just coming to a point of tiredness that is beyond anything I've experienced.
Yes, being 29 weeks pregnant with my third child whilst the older two are only 2 1/2 and 14 months, will make a person sleepy. But I don't just mean physically. I'm emotionally and mentally spent.
I actually planned to just skip my post today, to leave you hanging in suspense, and go curl up in the fetal position and weep for a while.
But then I realized something.
One... the cute picture of that adorable little sleepy-head had to be used somewhere!
Two... there are beautiful, wonderful, amazing seasons of life where God shows Himself new to me at every turn.

Then, there are times, like now, when it feels as if He has chosen to be silent. 

My first instinct, during times like this, is to act. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't usually sit still. It hasn't been until the past few years that I've seen the long line of movers and shakers I come from.
My Grandma Lemon is a mover.

She has an immaculate yard and a thoroughly dusted home at all times. My mom's that way too. She comes to my house for a cup of coffee and a conversation and ends up picking up the kid's toys or washing dishes. She just can't quit.

I'm starting to see, through recent ... let's call them "challenges"... that I may not be called to action at this time of no-clue-what-to-do-next-ness. This may very well be a call to sit still and watch Him work. I figure, if I go to the local park to be wowed by the fireworks display, what good would my journey be if all I did during the show was wash down the playground equipment, trim the roses, and pick leaves out of the grass around our blanket? Maybe all the tasks were necessary, but are they necessary at this very moment? And should they be done by someone else?

Okay, that may have been a terrible analogy.

My point is that though sometimes action is necessary, I can easily miss the point by getting caught up in the "busy-work" of it all. Maybe it's time for me to just sit still and let God be God without my "help".

Maple Syruping {Part 1}

I cannot fully express the kind of love and trust that is required to make today's post possible. Actually, I lied. I'm completely thrilled that Dear Sweet Hubs is going to make his very first appearance in the blogging world and I'm honored that he's willing to share. {That... and he's been asking to write about his love for all things sweet and sugary since last May when I started this blog.} 

So, without further ado...

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

After months of this

this 

 and this 

most of us are ready for spring time to arrive.

Since our furry friend in Punxsutawney told us that spring was right around the corner I’ve been even more restless to get outside, till the garden, and see a little bit of life. But before I’m even ready to think about peas and beans, the first harvest of the season is in full swing: Maple Syrup.

Maple season, in this part of Connecticut, lasts anywhere from the middle of February to the first part of April, depending on the weather. Maple syrup is actually FULLY dependent on the weather. The tree has a vascular system of sorts and needs cold nights and warm days to pump its "blood". 

The process starts in the late summer or early fall, when the leaves are still on the trees. I walk around the creek bed, where most of our sugar maples are, and mark them so I can recognize them a few months later when they're naked.

About the middle of February, I go out with a drill and a half inch bit and drill a hole about an inch and a half into the tree and lightly hammer a tap into it. These taps are sold at maple syrup supply stores.

As the sap in the tree moves up and down, it goes into this tap and drips into the bucket that is hanging. This sap looks and tastes like a slightly sweet water, because that's basically what it is. A sugar maple's sap is approximately 97% water/3% sugar. 

Every day these buckets need to be emptied. Sometimes, if the weather conditions are just right, you may need to empty the buckets a couple of times. For me, this is usually a pretty easy process, I just drive beside the trees and empty the buckets into a tank in the back. Not this year though. This year, I had to borrow snowshoes to be able to get to my trees. The picture below is of me hovering over about 3 feet of snow.

Each day I empty those buckets into a couple of  Rubbermaid containers to store until I'm able to boil the sap down to syrup.

The sap to syrup ratio is approximately 40:1. This means that for every 40 gallons of sap that is collected, I will end up with 1 gallon of syrup. The blue tote in the picture above holds 45 gallons of liquid. If this tote was completely full of sap, it would make a little over a gallon of syrup.

My lovely wife is now telling me that I need to cut this short and make it into two posts. Going from tree to table is a marathon, not a sprint.