Goodbye January

I'm sure my amazement at January being over is very similar to yours.  It really is true: as you get older, time goes faster.  It's no wonder our parents are always saying things like "it feels like just yesterday..."

We have been busy little bees at the Henry House.  Last weekend Simon and I tried our hands at carpentry (well, mostly Simon since I feel a bit incapacitated with a watermelon for a stomach).  We built a platform for our washer and dryer ($20 as opposed to $400 for the store-bought platforms).  It's been so nice not having to bend over so far to do laundry.  He also cut out a headboard for me, which I upholstered.  I'm not 100% satisfied with it, so at some point, I may add something to it.  I'll have to post a picture later to get your crafty opinions. :)  Simon enjoyed the experience of building stuff, so with the inspiration of a blog I recently found (www.knockoffwood.blogspot.com), he is starting a new hobby.  The first project is a simple bench that we will put behind our sofa.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

We are also continuing updates on our house.  The next big thing is the kitchen.  We finally got lighting (some inexpensive but great track lights).  We are putting in an island, wainscoting, backsplash, stove, and hopefully new countertops and sink.  The bathroom will probably have to wait until a while after the girls are born... I'll have to put up with my seashell toilet seat a little longer.

Christian has been doing super!  He had a doctor's appointment last week: he's grown and is now in the 5th% for his height!  He's talking a TON--- repeating pretty much anything you tell him to say (although not always discernible).  Dr. said that their verbal skills are a good indicator of higher intelligence.  Sweet... (although for all those quieter kids, I'm sure they're equally as smart...  I'm sure what the facts are based on).  It's been really beneficial to have several weeks of routine and being home.  He's been going to bed every night around 7:30 or 8, getting up around 7, then sleeping for THREE hours after lunch!  It's been amazing!!!  (I hate to ask for more, but I wouldn't mind if he slept in a little longer).  He makes me laugh so much, I love this kiddo!  His life is about to change so much, and he hasn't a clue.  We were given a crib (Thanks so much Rudy's!) that we are using in the girl's room, so we set up Christian's crib in his room.  He hadn't slept in a real bed since the middle of October (poor deprived child), and when we put him in it, he was SO excited!  Needless to say, it took him a while to fall asleep the first couple of times because he probably felt like he was in a new play-place.  We'll keep the girls in the same crib for the first few months, and then see if Christian is ready for something else (I have a feeling he wont' be, but we'll see). 
He loves playing ball (any type will do), reading books, eating fruit, bath/shower time, and playing with anything that has buttons, as in electronics.  He's growing up so much, and I feel so bad that I don't have pictures of his life during this time.  (Speaking of pictures, I finally sent my camera in to get fixed!... hopefully I'll get it back in the next few weeks). 

I am now 31 weeks pregnant, and still feeling wonderful.  Turning from one side to the other at night is a little inconvenient (okay, a LOT), but besides that, I'm sleeping well.  I feel like every morning when I wake up, my stomach has grown, but I'm still only measuring 42" around at the belly button.  Stretch marks are my new best friends.  The babies are around 3.5 pounds now, so hopefully they still grow a lot before being born, which is probably only 5-6 weeks away.  AHH!  I have so much to do!  But we are extremely excited.  We realize that life is about to change significantly, so we're doing as much as we can now to treasure the moments with each other and with Christian.  I took a picture of my growing stomach, but am waiting for a friend to send it to me.  (It was from Tiffany Clark's amazing baby shower, her, Amy Tonagel, and myself  took a threesome baby-belly picture!).

So anyway, sorry for yet another non-visual-aid post.  I hope you're not bored!  Time to do the budget...

... hello February!

Family Organization

In case you were wondering, the book I referred to previously about being the "CEO" of your family... is called:

The Family Manager Takes Charge
By: Kathy Peel

It's an easy (and interesting!) read... and is full of tips for cleaning, organizing, and managing your home.
Happy Reading. :)

Cape May French Toast

Here is a yummy breakfast recipe I had to type up for someone, so I figured I'd post it here to share with you too!

Cape May French Toast
via Rachel Henry via a Bed and Breakfast I once stayed at.
(Make the night before!)

1 loaf day-old french bread (or regular bread slices if it's all you've got)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 cup milk
1/4 cup half and half (or coffee creamer works too, even flavored!)
5 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar

In saucepan, melt butter adn brown sugars until melted.  Pour into 13x9 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
Slice bread in 3/4" slices and arrange in pan over sugar mixture.  If you want to be creative, use cookie cutters to cut a few slices to arrange on top).
Mix remaining ingredients and pour over bread. 
REFRIGERATE OVERNIGHT!
In the morning, bake at 300 degrees for 50 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
This will not disappoint!

January 15

I can't believe we're already 1/2 way through January.  Time has been flying, but it's been great!  After we got back from Maryland, Christian went to my parent's house for 3 days while Simon and I did a lot of work on our house.  We cleared the garage (and filled the house with boxes), put together our new IKEA furniture (I'll have to post pictures someday!), cleaned, refinished the floor, and painted.  Again, I WILL post before/afters once it's done.

I am in the process of reading a book that compares the job of a home-maker to being the CEO of a business.  And really, the comparison is very good.  Part of running my "company" is having what the author calls Command Central.  So I am currently setting up my own command post which will function as the base of operations for the Henry Homestead.  I need to get this little family organized before it can grow (and succeed).  It feels really good to get organized, and not only to get organized, but to invent a way that it can stay that way on a daily basis.  I have to admit, I'm pretty excited about this.  

Simon has gone back to work: and is officially the Assistant Director of Admissions! Hooray Hubby! He is thoroughly enjoying his new(to us at least) car (Saab 9-5), and he loves parking it in a garage.  He's the man!     

Christian has finally seemed to get back into a routine and is doing great with sleep, naps, and eating... still working on the listening thing.  He is saying so much!... he LOOOVES the "we-mote" (remote) and loves watching football or basketball on tv.  I never fail to smile when he wakes up from sleeping, and after babbling for a while, says "Mommy".... and he holds the first syllable out longer like he's calling to me.  Not that you really want to know EVERY word he can say, but a few are football, key-tar (guitar), yup/yesss/yah, dinner, bwush (brush), sues (shoes), baby, and a growing list of others... he'll pretty much try to repeat anything, and does so with surprising accuracy!  We are laughing a lot! (but probably scolding/correcting equally as much).  He's a handful!

The "girls" are growing, but treating me well.  I feel better than I did over Christmas, which I attribute to 2 things: #1--- I'm not eating as much.  #2--- I wear sweatpants whenever possible, and this makes a CONSIDERABLE difference in how comfortable I am around around my hips.  Even maternity pants are too snug to be truly comfy.  At our last ultrasound (one week ago), the doc said everything looks great, babies are same size (about 2.5 lbs), and I should keep on keepin' on.  I am 42" around my middle.  I have this freaky stretch-mark explosion right above my belly button... uck!  What else will happen in the next 2 months?  Oh, and to top it all off, my face is getting chubby.  Rats.
The babies are moving ALLL of the time, and they are getting stronger and more evident from the outside viewer.  When there is a sudden kick, it rocks my whole torso.  These are the things that every expectant mother adores, but which are so hard to share with others.  How can something that is so obvious to me be overlooked by everyone else?  But, this is the definition of being a mother, is it not?

Well ya'll, I wish you peace.

Merriment

We had a very nice Christmas holiday in Maryland.  It involved the typical eating out, late night card games, last minute shopping, and Christmas festivities.  Christian figured out about opening presents when we had Christmas at my parents, so he was well prepared for Christmas day.  He got toys, a few clothes, and some other random items.  Thanks everyone!  You can't tell in any of these pictures, but his little green pj's say "Santa's" on the front, and "Helper" on the bottom. 

This is Simon's dad... Pappy...

(notice the similar hair!)

Daddy and Christian (we love that bare chest!)...

This is Simon's mom... Mammaw...

This is Simon's brother, Luke, and his girlfriend Lauren.  You might remember seeing Lauren's picture before because she babysat Christian every week last year while I finished school.

And this is Simon's oldest brother Isaac, and his wife Tara.  They have to daughters, Olivia and Victoria, who Christian loves playing with.

Christian enjoyed the potato soup on Christmas day...

And just to throw this in there, I was 26 weeks pregnant at Christmas (please disregard my unkempt appearance... stayed in my pj's all day on Christmas)...

I am now 27 1/2 weeks, and I measured around my middle today: a whopping 41 inches at the level of my belly button.  I wonder how big that number will get before the end?!!?

So that was our Christmas day.  We're ready to get home and tackle the mess that still remains from moving into the new house.  Indiana, here we come!