What Do You DO All Day?

While on bed rest, what ELSE is there to do but elf yourself and your family?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We were elfed last year, but the country twang adds a whole new perspective.

Merry Christmas!

A

If You Can't Beat Em...

Not to be outwitted by my doctor, I managed to hit up Wallyworld and still follow my bed rest guidelines:



Nice ride, huh? Unfortunately I kept crashing into store display shelves and nearly took out a frightened 9 year old. My Mom laughed at me the whole time, especially when I would back up and the cart would beep.

See the cute little holiday dress I found for baby girl? Wallyworld seems to be the best (and cheapest) place I've found for preemie clothing. I am completely stocked up on diapers, sleepers and a few holiday outfits in the hard-to-find preemie size.

I DID leave the tags on, cause you never know. Maybe this little pipsqueak will decide that chocolate milk and custard made by her great grandma helps to add some chubs.

I still can't believe I drove myself around Walmart in a motorized cart. I am a super fast mall walker. I DON'T stroll.

I did made sure to stick my belly out really far to invoke sympathy and right-of-way. Didn't always work, but you gotta try, right?

A

Let The Holidays Commence...

Remember THIS post? My obsession with all that is peppermint mocha?

Yep, it's that time of year again, and guess what my lovely Mom including in a bed rest care basket for me?



Oh yeah baby! NOW the holiday season can officially begin.

And before you get all "it's not even Thanksgiving!" snarky on me, please keep in mind our holiday season will be a bit stressful for us this year.

Actually, my Mom-in-law pointed out that our last 2 Christmas seasons have been extremely stressful for us.

Last year we unexpectedly moved after our apartment flooded. The year before that we were going through with Bubbalu exactly what we are going through with baby girl now. Bed rest due to pre-eclampsia then having an early delivery. Oh yeah, and we have a snowy destination wedding for our brother and new sister-in-law 9 days before Christmas to throw into the mix.

But you know what?

I still love the Christmas season despite the last few years of Christmas chaos.

Remember the reason for the season, folks. Apart from that, not much else matters.

So, we are fully embracing an early jump on things with the majority of our gifts purchased and wrapped, lights up on the house (although we won't turn them on until after Thanksgiving), Christmas music playing throughout the house and 2 trees up above our door for seasonal effect.

Bubbalu desperately wanted to help Daddy put the trees up, but Mama quickly put the kibosh on that plan...



That boy is WAY to eager to climb tall dangerous things. Like father like son. Lance was incredibly thrilled to purchase a ladder. I love my nerdy husband.

Well? What about you? Ready for the season?

I'm off to put my feet up before I get yelled at...

A

Bedrest!?

I mean, I like to sleep and lay around, but COME ON! This is not easy folks!

As of Thursday, I have officially been put on doctor prescribed bed rest. Our baby girl is needing her Mama to lay around and give her the best chance to grow big and strong. And yes, I have been trying to behave.

However, it is really hard to turn off the 'super mommy' mentality and instantly turn into an dependant couch potato. Especially with Christmas just around the corner....and with a (nearly) 2 year old running around. And I DO mean running. Not to mention the ever increasing to-do list that we all have in our head...Christmas cards, dishes, Bubbalu 2yr birthday party, Christmas shopping, laundry, prepare nursery, feed toddler, laundry, wrap Christmas gifts, finish baby quilt, etc. You get the point.

Let's just say I don't like losing control.

Let's also just say I don't like to depend on others.

Let's continue in saying that maybe God is trying to teach me some patience?

Will keep you updated...

A

Snail Trails...

Do you know what the worst thing is about toddler cold snooky noses?

(I mean, the worst thing after having to watch your child suffer.)

It is the snail trails of snot left all over your clothing. Just a quick exam in the mirror shows I have a snail trail on my shoulder (from giving my frustrated toddler a cozy hug), my sleeve, and on the side of my shirt.

I've had this shirt on for an HOUR.

ONE HOUR.

So, if you happen to randomly drop by my house (which I don't recommend unless you want to come down with our plague or be forced into manual housework) please excuse my appearance and the snail trails.

A

Es Muy Delicioso...

A cute friend of mine asked me for a recipe a good 6 weeks or so ago, so here we go! Sorry for the delay Sarah...

Crock pot Taco Soup

-One pound ground beef or some chicken
-One can kidney beans (drained)
-One can corn (drained)
-One can pinto beans (drained)
-One large can (28oz) diced tomatoes
-One dinky can diced green chilies
-Taco seasoning
-Toppings...

1. Brown the ground beef and put in crock pot. OR, if using chicken, boil chicken until done, shred with 2 forks and put in crock pot. Not sure how to shred chicken? Spear chicken piece with one fork and attack it with the other in a clawing motion to shred it. Still not clear? I'm not sure I know how to help you...

2. Add the large can of undrained diced tomatoes, the dinky can of undrained diced green chilies, and the drained cans of pinto beans, corn and kidney beans.

3. Throw some taco seasoning in the mix until it tastes good. Maybe add a dash of black pepper, some salsa or some hot sauce if you're feeling gourmet or you like some kick to your food.

3. Cook on high a few hours or low a bunch of hours.

4. Serve with cut up avocado, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Some people prefer to put all the "toppings" in the bottom of the bowl, spoon the soup on top of the whole mess and eat it just like soup. Me? I put the toppings on the top (where they belong!)and scoop up my soup with tortilla chips.

My method DOES require hoarding of the tortilla chip bag to ensure you have enough proper scoop-worthy tortilla chips, but oh well.

Most of my dinner mates forgive me by the end of the meal. I DO offer to share at least once during consumption and if they don't jump at the chance, who do they have to blame!?

I do have to acknowledge that this super yummy recipe was shared by my friend Tay who was kind and gracious to cook this lovely dish up for our family during a trying time.

This soup is easy, pleasing to the stomach, and makes great leftovers, so while you're at it, make it a double batch and enjoy it for a few more days. OR...bring some to me!

A

Buzz Buzz Buzz...

Mama's been busy sewing...again. I spent the week before the 31st working on a cute bee costume for Bubbalu. I had major frustration and at one point almost cut off Bubbalu's air supply by over stuffing his costume. However, we prevailed and he turned out pretty cute.

The plan for the evening? Swing by the grandparents then hang out at the church harvest festival.

In the car on the way to Grandpa and Grandma's house:



Oooh, Grandma has LOTS of candy! See my scary stinger? Watch out! I might get you if you make me cranky!



Later, at the festival:

Hey, I can play this game, I LOVE water! Too bad Daddy wouldn't let me swim in it though. I got kinda mad when he made me get out of the pool. What can I say? The duckies looked lonely.



Hmmm, how do we play this game? Oh, this bean bag gets tossed into the scary red mouth?



How bout I just drop it in? Do I still get candy?



Please give me candy?



Hee hee hee, they still gave me candy!



After awhile Bubbalu got kinda tired and subtly let us know he was ready to go:



Yeah! I'm a free bee! Get it? A freebie? Oh I am SO funny!



A

Baby Girl Quilt Episode Three...

Alright, we've finished piecing the quilt top...



and liking the result:



Time to make a sandwich. No, not peanut butter and jelly, a quilt sandwich. The top layer, batting and a backing. Lay them all out on the ground, smoothing to perfection, and safety pin all the layers together...



Time to actually start the quilting. Basically, that means tacking all layers of the sandwich together.

I machine quilt because I am not a patient person by nature, and hand quilting just does NOT appeal to me. Yeah yeah yeah, I know that means I don't quilt for real, but that's OK. I quilt because I enjoy it.

A