Menu Plan (September 12-18)

My adorable nephew, Levi (AKA Nay-nay). Don't you just love him?!!

Menu Plan (September 12-18)

Sunday

Breakfast – cereal

Lunch – Bombay Chicken (from freezer) and Quinoa

Dinner – Dinner Out

Monday

Breakfast – simple soaked pancakes

Lunch – Bombay chicken leftover

Dinner – Lentil and Rice Casserole and green salad

Tuesday

Breakfast – Eggs and toast

Lunch – Lentil and Rice leftover

Dinner – 5-Minute Southwest Layered Salad (with shredded chicken from the freezer)

Wednesday

Breakfast – Eggs and Fruit

Lunch – Leftover southwest salad

Dinner – Salmon Melts and green Salad

Thursday

Breakfast – Eggs and Toast

Lunch – salmon melts leftover

Dinner – Chicken Pesto and Rice

Friday

Breakfast – Green Smoothies and oatmeal

Lunch – Chicken Pesto leftover

Dinner – Beefy Enchilada Bake

Dessert – Strawberry shortcake or (this recipe) Strawberry Shortcake

Saturday

Breakfast – Breakfast Burritos

Lunch – beefy enchilada Bake leftovers

Dinner – Dinner Out

Menu Plan (September 5-11)

My Husband took our little angel away today, to play with her cousins at Grandma and Papa's house. Mommy had a marvelous time without her! I even got my menu done. But, I do love you, my beautiful Gwendolyn!

Menu Plan (September 5-11) - Click on the meals to see recipes!

Sunday

Breakfast – Green Smoothies and Eggs

Lunch – Out with Family

Dinner – Italian Roast Wraps and watermelon

Monday

Breakfast – Baked Oatmeal

Lunch – Steak Salad - leftover from Sunday

Dinner – Grilled Veggie Sandwiches

Tuesday

Breakfast – Eggs and toast

Lunch – Grilled Veg Sandwich - leftover

Dinner – Chicken Tortilla Soup – from freezer

Wednesday

Breakfast – Eggs and Fruit

Lunch – turkey Sandwich and Chicken tortilla soup - leftover

Dinner – Spicy Lentil soup and Salad

Thursday

Breakfast – Eggs and Toast

Lunch – Spicy Lentil soup – leftover, and salad

Dinner – Chicken and Brocolli Stir Fry

Friday

Breakfast – Green Smoothies and oatmeal

Lunch – Sweet Potato and Salad

Dinner – Chili and Cornbread – both from freezer OR Pizza

Dessert – Fruit and Yogurt

Saturday

Breakfast – cereal

Lunch – chili and cornbread - leftover

Dinner - Chicken Pesto – from freezer, and Rice

Menu Plans for ME

I think I look very LARGE in this picture...but It's me with both my kids...so it's worth posting

Oh, there are so many Blogs I want to write...an update on Augustine, pics of my beautiful family, book musings...but what I need most right now is just a little ORDER in my life! I need the basics to start running smoother...like how I'm going to feed my family good food, give them clean clothes to wear and, somehow make our home more comfortable than just a huge pile of toys, dishes and clothes.

I've got to say, the CONSTANT nursing is really starting to get to me and make me CRAZY. But, it's very important to me, so I'm going to keep doing it. But, I've got to figure out how to make the other stuff go smoother, or I may truly go insane. It takes time and energy to get organized...but I feel like I am exerting MORE energy not having some procedures in place.

I often use my blog to "talk to myself," and today is no exception : ). I am going to begin posting my menu plans for the week (or the month) depending on how often I am able.

WHY? Is it because I am looking for more things to do? Uh...no. It's because, when I have had a menu plan in place, I have shopped smarter, spent less time preparing food, and have just enjoyed my day more. Also, I really want to lose this baby weight...while still eating well (and enough), for the health of my breast milk. That takes planning.

These menu plans will be, almost entirely, made up of recipes stolen from other people and will be based on the kind of food I want my family to be eating.

I have the right to change the menu on any given day...so if you come to my house on "Taco Tuesday" and we are eating waffles...I don't want to hear anything about it! I also don't want to hear anything should you see me out one day, devouring a beautifully iced, chemical-laden cup-cake. I'm very interested in preparing nutritious, real food at home. But the Lord has given me many delightful blessings on this earth...and a cupcake is one of them.

Stay tuned for my menu plans...maybe you will see some things you like!

Augustine Mark Bickerton

Our Little Boy, Augustine Mark, was born on August 3rd @ 10:49pm. He weighed 6 lbs, 11 oz. and was 20 inches. It's so wonderful to hold him and the labor and delivery couldn't have gone better...Praise the LORD!






My Mom was a real blessing to me. She is also a wonderful Labor Doula, and I asked her to be in the delivery room, toward the end, to be an encouragement to me. She truly was...and Bic and I were very thankful for her assistance!


Our First-born...our little DQ (Drama Queen)


Grandma Bickerton!


Daddy, with his boy...Finally time to go home...Thank Goodness!



Augustine is just crying because the hospital stay was so annoying : ).







Our boy likes to cuddle.



...On Tuesday morning (August 3rd) I had an appointment with my Midwife. I was 41weeks pregnant and 5 centimeters dilated. At 41 weeks, they like you to do a non-stress test and a measurement of the baby's water. Augustine was monitored for a long time, because my midwife was uncomfortable with the change in his heart rate, each time I had a contraction. Although she was honest in saying that the monitors don't necessarily tell us anything, given the information that was available, she, ultimately, suggested that we induce labor by breaking my water...rather than send me home and have me keep having contractions that may or may not be having a negative affect on the baby. For instance, there could be a cord issue.

Although we would have preferred to not induce labor, we were thankful for the Midwife's professional opinion and we got ready to have a baby.

I've got to tell you...in the hours leading up to the actual breaking of my water...I was very nervous, scared, and upset. I was, mostly, really worried about my baby boy. Hearing "there may be a cord issue" was VERY difficult for me. Like everyone else, I've heard some bad stories. Also, I was anxious in knowing that we were going to purposely induce labor. Of course, I was very interested in not being pregnant anymore, but I also knew that the less you interfere with Labor, the less complicated it is likely to be...and that's kind of what I was going for.

My water was broken at 5:30pm. The Midwife was awesome, and stayed in our room for a while, talking with us about nothing serious and helping me to relax. After she left to tend to another mom, I tried to play a game of cards with Bic, but I was a real wreck. A couple hours went by and my contractions remained the same as they had been for many days and I was discouraged because the baby was being continuously monitored, meaning I was attached to short cords and couldn't move around much. As I sat there, feeling worried about my baby, I realized that this was not going to work. My emotional state was not going to help my labor progress. There are many mental aspects to giving birth!

I knew that no one could tell me that my baby was definitely going to be okay. I knew that no one could tell me that inducing labor wasn't going to lead to further interventions. But, I was desperate for something that was completely concrete...an absolute "sure thing."

I picked up the bible I had asked my brother, Pete, to bring to the hospital. I stood up and began to walk 4 steps forward, 4 steps back (about as far as I could go, being hooked-up to the monitors). I read Psalms 139 and 18...over and over and over again.

God used His never-changing Word to remind me of His identity and MY identity. Those words began to renew my mind, soul and spirit...not because I knew everything would go well with the baby or the delivery....but because I KNEW that, no matter what, things would be well with ME. My God's promises to me would not be changed...and that's what I needed.

Well, somewhere, in the midst of this calming of my mind...my contractions began to get stronger...and stronger. If I sat back down, they would stop...so I just kept walking back and forth. About two and a half hours later, our beautiful baby boy was born...healthy, beautiful, and safe!

All Glory and Praise be to God!

And, a really HUGE "Thank you" and "I love you" to my husband...the BEST coach. He couldn't have been more Awesome!

The Waiting Game

Well, he's still not here! We are actually very surprised. I assumed he'd be, at least, a little early. But...NO. Officially, little Augustine is one day past his due date...and counting.

I realize this is not actually a real reason to complain...but I'm going to do it, anyway.

I'm off to eat some spicy Salsa to try and get things going - and, YES, I have tried the other stuff : ). Well, I haven't tried Caster Oil...and I only went on ONE walk...

You can keep your fingers crossed for me. If anyone needs me, I'll just be home surfing boring facebook statuses, stepping over Cheerios (instead of cleaning them up) and answering calls with the phrase, "No. I haven't had the baby, yet."

Below are some lyrics from "Love Song for a Savior" (Jars of Clay)...

In open fields of wild flowers,
she breathes the air and flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses
in no simple language...
...Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call her and she will come running
and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray,

"I want to fall in love with you"

This song was on an album I used to listen to a lot when I was first introduced to Jesus Christ.

It's a nice song. Nice words.

But, quite frankly, this one always got the fast-forward from me. Why? Oh, I don't know...maybe it's because I shut down a little when confronted by overly-emotional expressions. Maybe it's because the ideas of "GOD" and "FATHER" don't feel synonymous to me. I don't know, I just think of this little girl, blissfully playing in this field of flowers and falling at the feet of Jesus, enjoying his embrace...and I just don't get. I don't "Feel" it. It's not that I don't consider the relationship a real one...quite the contrary. But, it's the blissfulness of what that little girl "feels" that I can't put my finger on.

Here's the thing...I just heard it for the first time, in a really long time, the other day. This time I wasn't trying to fit myself into the picture and see what it felt like there. But it was easy to image my little Gwendolyn running through a field of "flours" and laughing and loving without any hesitation. I vividly and simply envision the way she smiles and says "Jesis" when it's time to read her books at night and how the sound of her Daddy singing about his Savior, always calms her crazy little self.

When I think of Gwendolyn, these words..."Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him...Someday He'll call her and she will come running"...seem natural. I actually DO think that is what will happen.

I am interested by this logic...because, if it's true for Gwendolyn...then it's true for me. My relationship with Jesus Christ does, in no way, hang on a feeling or rely on a notion of fancy flowers. But, the cynicism I carry from my "life experiences" has made the run through the field of flowers more like a tired sprint through the grocery store.

I'd like to say this re-evaluation of the song has changed my life around completely and I have been, again, re-born in the embrace of my Jesus. Alas, that's not actually true. But, I can tell you this...God Does Not change...He does not vary with my current emotional state.

And, the picture I see of my Gwendolyn has found me, also, looking out the car window for my own field of flowers...daring to believe it truly exists.

My Babies' Rooms

I'm too tired and hot and lazy to write anything with substance, so here are some pictures of the kids' new rooms...

The Princess' Room:










Augustine's Room (AKA Gwendolyn's other room):
...It's so weird setting this room up for a new baby and thinking about how that new baby won't be Gwen...it's just strange...has anyone else ever felt that way??








Thank you, Daddy, for all your work on the not-so-fun parts about putting rooms together!

"It helps to listen, even when someone is talking about NASCAR."

My Title is a quote from my brilliant brother. He and his wife, Jenná, have recently embarked on planting a new church in the Tucson/Marana area.

He's one of those guys who learned a lot in Seminary...but learns even more in LIFE, on a daily basis.

Check out the new Blog for Holy Cross Church and follow along for an encouraging reminder of who God IS...and who we are, because of Him.

OR...just follow along to laugh at Pete. He's actually pretty funny.

Best Day EVER!

This last Saturday, my wonderful friend (and sis-in-law), Jenná, and I had plans to get a pedicure and have a little lunch. We are very close, like sisters, really. But we don't get to just spend casual, event-less time together very often. So, this would be a nice morning, and a nice way to celebrate the impending arrival of my little guy.

Being with Jenná would have been nice...but what actually happened, was one of the biggest blessings I've had the privilege of enjoying!

When Jenná pulled up to meet me at Starbucks that morning, out of the car came Jenni Thye and Amy Cooper! These girls are two of my very dearest friends. They were my room-mates in College and my beautiful bridesmaids, and now live out-of-town.

These girls know me well...and still love me LOTS! I miss them more than I realized!

After I totally broke down and cried for about 5 minutes (Jenni identified it as the hormones), I got to spend the rest of the day with them! It was truly wonderful and exactly what I needed. And, boy was it great that I didn't have to spend the entire day with just Jenná!!!!

37 Weeks...and 1 day : )

Sunday was a stressful and emotional day. Actually, I've been having a few of those, lately. But, instead of showing those pictures...I'll just show the ones where I took a break from trying to get things done, put some blush on and made rice crispy treats with Gwendolyn...then ate them ALL.









My little Gwendolyn has been pretty bored with her tired, uncomfortable, HOT Mommy. There is NO WAY I'm going outside...so she's pretty much on her own...let's just say there has been lots of Barney-watching around here. But, the baby pool helps A LOT, too!







And, it wouldn't really be any fun without at least one fit.



We recover quickly...bi-polar, much??



I'll tell you one thing, though...I'm really NOT going out there.



During the 1-hour trek across town to pick up a $40 double-jogger with a rotating front wheel!!! YEAH!!



I've decided to wake up every morning thinking, "this could be the day"...not because I actually have any idea when Augustine will come, but because it seems like more fun than waking up and thinking, "I have no idea when I'm going to go into labor".

So, this morning I shaved AREA 51 : ) and spent time relaxing...I'm READY!

As we plan for a new baby and doing the whole infant thing all over again, many questions come to my wandering mind...all relating to how we did things the first time around. I'm sure that's totally normal.

Being a parent is a strange thing. It's like you are learning and growing, just like the baby...but no one cares when you are hungry and if you start screaming and crying in the middle of the grocery store, you will just get weird looks and asked to leave.

Never-the-less, as we write our birth plan and prepare this new baby's sleeping arrangements, I can't help but wonder about the things that people talk about a lot.

Like...

• If Gwendolyn had been laid in my arms right away, would she be more cuddly now?
• If I wasn't such a basket-case after her birth, would she be calmer and less dramatic?
• If we had let her fall asleep on us more, would she be more flexible and restful, now?

I mean, there are some things that I think are evidenced to be more true than not...babies seem to pick up on their mother's demeanor and I would argue that it absolutely does effect them. If you have a stressed-out mom...I think you often get a stressed-out baby. Also, I now truly believe that the best chance you have at making Breastfeeding work is to FEED the baby...a lot...when he wants to be fed...at least in the beginning.

But, as I lay awake at night because I'm so uncomfortable and have to pee at all times, there are those things that truly make me wonder...does the way a baby comes into this world and is nurtured in the first few days, weeks have a life-long impact on the person they become?

But, last night I was thinking about something else, as well. Let's say it's all true...the decisions we make in those first days with our baby are going to totally impact his personality and ability to cope with certain situations...and it will effect the rest of his life. Well, I thought, SO BE IT.

I began to remember that this life is short. It will have sorrow and hardship. It will be a journey of learning and growing. This life is temporary and we can take nothing from it when we die. The only hope any of my babies have is the Hope that is promised in the free gift of GRACE given by Jesus Christ, in His death on the cross, as he took the weight of our shortcomings, our complete failures, our down-right evil and wrong behavior.

I'm not going to stop preparing for my baby or making decisions that I think are best for his quality of life here, but I think the chance I will not screw him up in some way is slim to none. I guess he will have to rely on the One who made him, to redeem him.

Costco Comparison List !

Print it out and take it to the grocery store! Very helpful...don't you just love when other people do the work for you!

Costco Comparison List from PYP!

My Family

I finally found a way around my photo upload problem! It's such a treat to have these pictures. I just wish that Amber Lea Russell Photography would follow us around on a daily basis and record all the beautiful moments : ).