Sweet

I really like using natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and fruit juice concentrate. I had seen one called agave nectar at the store but didn’t know much about it. Then I learned agave nectar has one of the lowest glycymic index numbers for natural sweeteners. I was diabetic my last pregnancy and my dad is diabetic too, so I am always looking for low glucose solutions. I got some and tried it. I LOVE IT. Yum, it is similar to honey but more mellow and sweeter. It is easier to pour, won’t get hard & I don’t have to use much at all. I have and will use it on:

Pancakes/ French toast
In smoothies
In hot cocoa or steamed milk
In a peanut butter sandwich
To sweeten yogurt
On cereal
In salad dressings

I haven’t tried to bake with it yet, but I will. It is a newer product so there are limited recipes out there for it. Let me know if you try it.

having a pregnant wife means...

Things David likes about having a pregnant wife:

1. I totally crave meat. Usually we eat meat 1-2 times a week, but lately it is 1-2 times a day.

2. No PMS. I don’t think I am that moody regularly, but I have been very happy and content since being pregnant (besides the tired & sick part)

3. I am too tired to argue or disagree. You want a new fishing rod, OK. You want a new sleeping bag, OK. (He hasn’t actually caught on to this yet.)

4. I do not want to spend money on new clothes right now. Just too depressing.

5.How could I not write, BIG Boobs. That and I crave romance books, movies or the real thing. Enough said.

Things David does not like about having a pregnant wife:

1. I find myself borrowing his clothes more often. He did not appreciate me wearing his wakeboarding shirt but my old swimsuit just didn’t fit me all in anymore. He doesn’t want the boob part to get stretched out. Haha.

2. Yes, I am tired a lot. He sometimes has to take care of someone besides himself.

3. I need about 5 pillows at night to get somewhat comfortable. I predict this number will continue to increase.

4. He has to start thinking about Labor and Deliver. Like most men he does not like hospitals, blood, needles and all things labor related. For the first child he stood in the furthest corner like a ghost. For the second child he was braver and sat in a chair next to me but stared at his feet for the majority of the night. Number 3?

5. I’m sure there be more to come…

Competition

Here is Owen and his grampa doing some work in the cherry picker. Owen knows how to control it of course. He knows how to drive the tractor, use the blower, air compressor and all the tools (thankfully not the chainsaw yet.) He even has his own ear protectors. What kind of toys am I supposed to entertain this kid with now? How could he ever be happy with a plastic hammer? Papa has a very hard time saying "no" to Owen and we couldn't be happier. He is a great role model for the kids.

Rock & Roll

We are so lucky to live in such an artistic area. Any night of the week in summer you can find a free concert in the park around town, and it is actually good music. Tonight Owen and I went with Dave's parents to a concert on the lakefront. It was a Beattles coverband and we had alot of fun. They had everyone up dancing by the end of the show. I think we all need to dance more.

Surprise

We always told the kids when Owen got potty trained we could get a dog. We even had the kinds narrowed down. Well Owen is now potty trained but instead of a dog you get... a new baby. Surprise! (to us all.)

I am finally getting over the shock. Sorry to my friends and family who are trying for babies right now. I'm not sure how I got bumped up to the front of the line. Perrie is taking it very well. She thinks about it almost as much as me and has been such a little mother to Owen since she found out. She says she wants to be there when I deliver, hmm I'm still thinking of that one. When I asked Owen if I should have another baby he said with panic "NO!" He tries to lift my shirt and look for the baby. Dave is taking it well too. Maybe it hasn't hit him yet, but he hasn't complained about me being so lazy lately so that is a good sign.=)

February 14th!

Natural Beauty

I was inspired by Ashley’s blog to write about my “beauty regiment”. I have very sensitive skin and used to have alot of breakouts. I bought this book a few years ago called “Absolute Beauty” by a gorgeous woman from India. I have a lot of respect for ayuervedic medicine so I was drawn to this one. She basically says, your skin is your biggest organ right? So why would you put something on your skin that you wouldn’t eat? That made a lot of sense to me. She has various recipes for different skin types and more information on massage, meditation, and diet.

For the last few years I have used only food grade oils for my skin. My favorite is almond oil for a body oil, which you can mix with a favorite essential oil. I have also tried grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil and even extra virgin olive oil works well. For my face I wash with a homemade scrub of barley meal, powdered milk and dried lemon peel. Then I nourish and moisturize with pure absolute Rose Oil, mixed with a little almond oil. This has worked better for me then anything ever! I never feel too dry or too oily, my skin rarely has a breakout anymore. The real Rose oil is a little pricey but last a long time. Otherwise I am saving a ton of money and doing my body good.

Now I have been trying to eliminate shampoo and conditioner. I know you are thinking stinky hippy, but after reading about the known carcinogens in that stuff I was looking for alternatives. I heard about this baking soda wash and apple cider vinegar rinse. I was skeptical but since I have all those items in my house I had to try it. So far it has worked great. There is more info here http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html

I am excited by these simple, healthy choices and I am saving a lot of money. What beauty treatments do you find helpful?

Garden Help

We peek at our garden daily, but it is barely growing in this 50' weather. =( Owens tool of choice right now is this edger. He loves the sound it makes when he pushes it. The kids dare each other to run thru Papa's bee-infested raspberry rows. We love working in the garden.