7 weeks!

I had my first appointment yesterday! 

Brooke is so excited about this baby so I decided to take her along.

The nurses kept telling her she gets to meet her new baby today.. 

She was so thrilled because she literally thought she was going to meet the baby. 

They started the regular sonogram but could not see anything because I wasn't that far along. 

So we switched to the other kind and still really couldn't see the baby!

I guess he or she was hugging my uterus so it was really hard to make it out.

Ooops. I just called my child an it.

Forgive me.

To Brooke it looked like a blob of nothing in something shaped like an upside down rainbow.

She kept looking over at me and beaming.

I think even though she couldn't see her baby shister she felt very big and tried her best to act grown-up.

We saw the little heart beating and of course I got emotional.

I have a little human inside me that is going to come out, Lord willing, breathing, crying, wriggling, sighing and wanting to eat. 

What a miracle that a "little blob" is our baby #3.

It just overwhelms me.

God is so GOOD!

Psalm 139:13-18 is my favorite passage right now.

For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
   How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

If you think about it, please pray that I find a Christian midwife. 

Aaron and I have decided we would really like to have the baby at home and I have seen what a blessing a Christian midwife can have on a birth.

So it is looking like Blessing #3 will be coming end of June beginning of July.

I am not stressing about trying to figure out a due date because they never actually turn out that way! 

The baby comes when he or she wants to come.

I was hoping I was farther along just so I could be done with the nasty feeling but oh well.

Aaron is currently at the store getting me cottage cheese, fruit-yogurt-granola, whole wheat english muffins and poptarts because those are the only things that sound good!

I think I am having a girl.

All I want is salty.

Brooke's pregnancy was all salty and Brayden's was sugar.

hmmm...

Oh and in both of our families the pattern goes Girl Boy Girl.

I wonder if history will repeat itself?

Brooke's prayer

A couple of weeks ago Brooke came up to me and asked if she could have a baby sister.

I told her it wasn't up to me and she should ask God.

Excitingly she exclaimed, "OK!!!"

"Dear God,

May I Please have a baby sister?

(pause)

Yes?

(jumping up and down screaming)

OK! MOMMY! GOD SAID YES!!!"

I burst out laughing and forgot about the prayer....

Until 

the day came and I realized that God answered her prayer.

Sort of.

God has blessed us with baby #3 due sometime this summer!!!

I have an appointment next week to find out exact due date... I will update when I find out more.

Praise God for blessing us with another little miracle!

Maybe I should mention one more prayer Brooke had.

I am a little scared to because she prayed for

 a brother AND a sister.

Banana muffins

 Muffins are  one of my comfort foods.

One of my favorite memories growing up was waking up to the smell of freshly baked muffins.

I would sit there doing my school eating a hot muffin loaded with butter.

Real butter by the way...not margarine...

Now that I have kids I want to make muffins for breakfast but have had a hard time finding a tasty yet healthy muffin. 

If there isn't a cup of oil there is cups of sugar. 

If its made with all whole wheat flour they are so stiff that the babies won't eat them.

UNTIL

I found this recipe on this Website

AMAZING!!!!

The kids ate them all morning long and then wanted them for lunch.

*notes on the recipe

-I forgot to put the oil in but I didn't even notice it missing. 

-Instead of the extra half cup of white flour I did 1/4 cup wheat germ and 1/4 cup ground flax

-I used almost 3 bananas so maybe that is why I didn't need the oil

-The apple helps sweeten the bread but its subtle enough that the banana really shines thru.

Aaron even enjoyed these muffins and he hates healthy muffins.

I would encourage you to try them and let me know if they were a hit in your house!

Another sidenote.. If you followed the link to the website you will find MANY other kid friendly, yet easy and healthy recipes.  

Even if you don't have kids there are many easy recipes that adults would like.

I LOVE tater tot casserole but it is not very healthy as it is loaded with sodium. 

The shepherd's pie is a huge hit in our house and a good substitute for tater tot casserole.

So is the potpie and crock pot oatmeal.

I  made the other banana bread recipe and it was a huge hit as well. 

Very similar to this recipe but you use a whole cup of wheat germ and barely taste it.

Happy baking/cooking everyone!

Apple Banana Muffins (Makes 24-28 Mini Muffins)
1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Cinnamon
3 Tbsp Vegetable or Canola Oil
1/2 Cup Agave OR Honey
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Milk
2 Bananas, mashed
1 Medium Apple, peeled and grated (Gala, Pink Lady, Fuji or Golden Delicious are good choices)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and mix.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients together.
4. Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
5. Grease a muffin tin or line it with muffin cups and fill each cup 3/4 full with the batter.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Serve.

Momma's Boy

If you have been following my blogs or know me,

you know that I LOVE coffee.

I roast my own, have a certain way to grind it and brew it.

My mornings are not good unless it is started off with a yummy cup of coffee and some time in the Bible.

Recently... we have a new coffee addict...

Brayden!

If I drop coffee beans on the floor he comes running and pops them in mouth.

(For those of you who know me really well, you will remember a time when I use to eat coffee beans!)

He brings his de-de over and wants me to dunk it in my coffee for him.

This morning we learned, don't leave your coffee unattended at the Roli house. 

Quick Favor!!!

I am in a contest (sort of) to get a free trial of cloth diapers. If you have a few minutes would you mind voting?? I have always wanted to try them so this is my chance! Thank you!

http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com/2010/11/sprout-change-giveaway-for-cloth-diaper.html

Tu-Tu's, Kitchens and Carnivals

This past weekend I packed up the kids and drove down to Coronado to visit my friend who's hubby is still in the Navy. She has a one year old as well so we thought it would be a fun playdate.

And I LOVE where she lives.

Coronado is a little island right next to San Diego and there is a huge military base there.

That is where Aaron actually spent alot of his time in the Navy and our first dates were in Coronado.

anyway..

The base was putting on a Fall festival so we loaded the kids in strollers and walked over.

Brookelyn went crazy!

There were ponies, a mini ferris wheel, a merry go round, a bouncy house and many more fun things.

Of course I had no camera so you will just have to picture her riding a pony for the first time but signing 'all done' the whole time.

She hated the merry go round because it jerked and there was nothing to hang on to.

She loved the cotton candy.

And she loved the clowns that painted her face.

They also had this fluffy bunny named Coco that she was thrilled to be able to pet. 

There was a table with caramel apples and everytime she walked by the lady handed her one.

WHO gives a 3 year old a huge apple without asking the mother??? 

I had 3 by the end of the night...

I don't think she realized it was a carnival celebrating Halloween. 

There were no decorations excepts some cute scarecrows and hay bales.

All she saw was little girls dressed up like bumble bees, princesses or fairies.

She happened to be wearing HUGE tutu that my friend let her borrow so I was alittle worried I was confusing her.

But someone made a comment about trick or treating and she stomped her foot and said, 

"No!! We don't like trick or treating. Its icky."

I think we got our point across!!

She was very sad when she had to take it off and leave it so I thought to myself I better get one for her.

But cheapskate me, I refuse to pay $30 or more dollars for one,

So I went to good ol Walmart

I found tulle for $.99 a yard! 

I looked on a pattern and figure out how much I needed so I decided I could splurge and get another color that was $2 a yard.

After some pretty ribbon I spent a total of $10!

*note to other cheapskate moms- bare necessities I could have made it for less

I went home and took her old tu-tu (our wonderful neighbor lady had brought over bags of name brand clothes cuz her little girl had out grown them and Brooke's favorite article was a pink tutu. She literally wore it to shreds.)

I cut off the tatters and re-used the elastic band (you could even use an old pair of underwear elastic)

to make this

I also took an old headband she had and added more ribbon to match.

She was THRILLED!!!!

She wears it non stop.

Even to the park.

Its a good thing I didn't spend alot of money or else I would cringe every time it gets dirty.

Well on top of my exciting tu-tu find, I was driving home from Walmart when out of the corner of my eye I saw a garage sale with a little play kitchen.

I whipped my car around as fast as a I could and almost ran over to the lady and asked how much.

I was cringing because around here people ask way too much money for stuff because they pay way too much.

Her answer?

$30!!!!!

I said give me 5 seconds to call my hubby and make sure I can spend the money.

Right as I am calling another lady walks over and starts trying to barter for it.

I got really nervous but Aaron said yes and the garage sale lady said first come first serve so it was mine!

And I know it was the Lord because I never carry cash but that day I happened to have it and I had just been to the bank and almost put it in my account but for some reason my heart told me no.

If THAT wasn't enough she had boxes of play food and dishes.

I filled a trash bag she said make me on offer.

I HATE being rude so I asked if I could have it all for 45.

She said yes!

Sidenote-

 JUST THAT MORNING 

Aaron and I had been looking at them for the kids and decided they were too much money.

I didn't even ask the Lord and yet He KNEW what I wanted and gave it to us anyway.

WHAT?!!! 

I called my Mom ecstatic.

She instantly brought to mind the story in Genesis 22 when God is first called Jehovah Jireh or The Lord will Provide.

Abraham has been instructed to kill his son. 

Abraham had faith in God and even told His son that God himself will provide a lamb.

A lamb was provided and Isaacs life spared. 

Now, a kitchen is trivial in comparison but God does things in our life to bring us close to Him,

so we look at those big or small things, 

and the only thing we can do is give Him ALL the glory.

Don't you think that every time Abraham looked at a ram, he was reminded how God provided

 and then worshiped Jehovah Jireh?

Every time I look at the kitchen it is a small reminder that our Lord God takes care of us and provides my every want or need. 

He knows whats in my heart even before I ask or say it.

If this little kitchen brings me to my knees in awe and full of worship, can you imagine how Abraham felt?

You are holy, great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are

Wings Brookelyn style and coffee Mommy style

Ahhh... Naptime. My favorite time of day. 

Brayden has been really cranky due to eye teeth coming in and Brooke always has an attitude.

They must lay in bed at night, conspire a plan to wake up as early as possible to make Mommy as cranky as possible.

I am NOT NOT NOT a morning person.  

Naptime is when I am finally alert, awake, full of coffee and ready to take on the day.

So in my alertness I am going to blog :)

Brooke loves to help cook. It has been hard for me to learn to let a 3 year old help.

I am a control freak and somewhat a perfectionist so trying to allow her freedom to make a mess is very difficult for me.

But I am trying.

She eats everything if I let her help.

Bonus!!

I'm talking everything.

Picky eater? 

Get them involved with making their food. 

Anyway.

I was making wings for Sunday football and Brooke wanted to help.

She licked the spoon after every stir. 

(Didn't tell my company that small detail)

Then she decided to let Bella lick her fingers after every stir.

I made her stop after that because no one wants dog spit on their wings.

Despite every wing either being touched or chomped on they turned out 

pretty finger lickin' good!

On a sadder note... 

My espresso machine broke AGAIN.

3rd one in less then a year.

And I thought by buying the more expensive one I would be fine.

Nope.

Maybe I make too much coffee to keep up with those machines...

I was so frustrated because when I called the company they said I needed to pay $15 (again) so they could ship me a new one.

I thought about it and added it up.

I bought the machine for $99.

That one broke so add 15 to get another one.

That one broke so add another 15.

If I kept going at this pace my $99 dollar machine could turn into a couple hundred dollar machine! 

I decided I needed a different approach to making my fresh roasted coffee.

I brainstormed.

And then it hit me.

DUH.

How do the Italians make their own personal coffee??

With this GENIUS little moka pot.

It was around $30 at Bed Bath and Beyond.

No machine parts. No electric cord. Plain, Simple and has the potential to have a very long life!

 Wondering how it works?

You put water in the bottom part.

(If you enjoy having a thick crema you can add a little sugar into the water.)

Then there is this little funnel filter that you put the grounds in and it fits into the bottom part.

You screw the top and bottom together and put it on your stove.

After a few minutes the water starts boiling and passing thru the coffee

so it looks like this in the top part.

Viola! 

Perfectly made espresso ready to do with as you please.

I add a little milk so its more latte but you could drink it straight, add water to make an americano or froth your own milk for cappuccino. 

I HIGHLY recommend getting one of these if you enjoy espresso.

There are no parts that could break (unless you drop it)

and its really easy to wash and take apart.

The coffee doesn't come out tasting like plastic or dirty pipes like when you use an espresso machine.

Coffee/playdate anyone??