Was this suppose to be a race?

I heard an interesting phrase the other day... "we are all in this big race to the end [of this life]... when we will finally be freed from all of our imperfections."

This made me stop and think about my life and what life is really all about. Am I racing through everyday? Am I trying to catch up to the person in front of me? Or just trying to stay ahead of the person behind? Am I racing a 100 meter dash and just trying for 1st place? Am I missing what is really important?

I would like to hope that I am living as though life is not a sprint, but a marathon... one mile at a time... one step at a time... trying to get to the finish line just for my own personal accomplishment and not just to beat someone else there. Am I enjoying ever step... no matter how hard or painful or tiring it is?

I hate the phrase endure to the end cause it just makes the journey sound painful. Of course with the joys of life come trials. We can't always see the blessings or growth that the trials bring us, but then another familiar phrase comes to mind... we can't know sweet without the bitter.

Yes I can't wait to be freed from my own imperfections, but what am I doing with the time I have now... am I just sitting waiting to become perfect? Or am I striving to make the best of what I am and what I have?

I like to think that I am enjoying life to its fullest... every moment... every day. But as many of you... I know that I am looking to the next day or the next big event or next phase of life just to get me through the current one I am in.

Enough with the inner monologue... here is what I am going to do.

Love life.
Love God.
Love my family.
Love my neighbor.
Love myself.

All else will fall into place and I will better enjoy the journey and enjoy a closer glimpse of my destination.

(enjoying every moment)

Wholly Cow!

I just sneezed 13 times in a
row... NO JOKE! Don't believe
me? Ask Ellee... she was
rather amused by it all.

Ahhh the joys...

Teething: (teeth·ing) (t[emacr]th¢ing) the entire process which results in the eruption of the teeth

What this definition doesn't tell you is what exactly you get in this entire process. I had no idea. Luckily Ellee was able to enlighten me in the last few days. Now I am sure that all of these symptoms are not necessarily related to teething, just an incredibly unlucky/unlikely coincidence.

...don't ask how it works... one thing just led to another...

Since last Friday, Ellee has come down with the following symptoms: lack of appetite; congestion; needy (as in not content to play on her own for long, but not needy as in I want cuddles and snuggles from my mommy... needy as in I want you to hold me but you'd better be standing up and let me reach and grab for everything that you aren't trying to distract me with); nasty croupy cough; wheezing; waking in the night (and naps) every 45 minutes wanting her pacifier just so she can spit it out again because she is so congested that she can't breathe with it in; raspy voice and cry; green slimy eye goobers; low grade temperature; constipation and diarrhea (I know they don't usually accompany each other so don't ask how it works... one thing just led to another); one tiny little visible tooth; and finally when we went to the doctor she tops it all off with an ear infection.

Lovely.

Now those of you who are reading this thinking... oh no... my kids were just around her I hope they don't get sick too... don't worry, Ellee is on antibiotics and the doctor assured us it wasn't contagious at this point.

But none the less life here is quite interesting... I have had a suspicion that she was teething from the signs below... but now that I can see that tiny little tooth, I at least know that there is an end to all of this madness! Of course there are still 19 more teeth to erupt... so I guess this is just the beginning! Possibly the beginning to my end. I hope I can survive.

I've been busy...

So I've been slacking on blogging as I have been keeping myself busy working on other fun projects... and yes you can call me Domestic Goddess Abby. Is there anything I can't do? Man I am good! Okay okay, I am totally just kidding (well mostly). Anyhow I have been inspired lately to make all sorts of fun stuff... I've been making hair clips for little girls (maybe one day Ellee will be able to wear them!), beaded bracelets and pacifier leashes/clips also for little girls, head bands and bows and curly ribbon clips and I have been (key word: collecting) more scrapbooking stuff (yes I will get back into it sometime soon... I am very behind!) but my most recent project is seen below... embellished burp clothes. I got the idea from my sister-in-law Laura (who i might add is also a self proclaimed domestic goddess)... no more plain boring white burp clothes...


If you are going to have to be spit upon and always keep your shoulder covered... it might as well be covered fashionably!

What a shame

Yesterday I heard the funniest thing on the radio... funny as in I can't believe what I am hearing funny... as in are you kidding me funny... as in... okay you get the point. Anyhow, it being St. Patrick's day I guess people think that it is okay to go out and start drinking from dawn to dusk... okay really from dawn to dawn the next day.

But anyway, it was about 2:30 and the radio personality was downtown at some of the bars and was interviewing various people there. The first girl was describing how she started off her festivities with a toast to the day... bloody mary I believe was what she toasted with. Next she went to one bar for it's early opening to kick off the party. There she consumed 4 shots and 2 bloody mary's. Next she hit the street parties to dance (if that is what you can call it with this much liquor in your system) and throw down a few more drinks. I believe she made mention of a few martinis and a couple margaritas. Then it was at the next bar that the radio guy caught up with her for this interview. She mentioned that she was currently enjoying another bloody mary, the third of the 3 she consumed at this bar. She said she is still going strong... may I remind you that it is only 2:30 pm!!!!

Then next part is the part that makes me laugh. Well, the radio guy then asks her what her plans are for the rest of the day. And she mentioned a few more bars and street parties and then says church! She actually said she was going to try and make it to church between all of these parties! The radio guy then laughs a bit and asks her why... why church on saturday... amidst all of the partying? She then says that she doesn't want to be bothered by church with the hangover that she is planning on having on Sunday!!!

Can you believe it? What a sad sad day we live in!

On happier note... this was the first year that I got to pinch Devn for not wearing green! I had gotten dressed before him so he was still in his jammies and I got him!!! HA take that Devn!

Also we enjoyed large green Shamrock Shakes in honor of the day. Thanks McDonald's!

How Sweet

This picture is from Early February... Just thought everyone needed to see Ellee and her betrothed, Owen.

Spring???

W

ell last week while I was in UT, we had here in Des Moines what I hope was our last big winter snowy hurrah. This week is definitely looking more promising. It's been 50 degrees the last 2 days and today it is suppose to hit 65! The grass is a swampy mess and the pavement has large lakes of running off melted snow and giant partly melted black snow banks from the plowing of the parking lots... but other than that it is absolutely beautiful! Spring is on its way and I couldn't be more happy about it!

Hi Cousin!

Well here Ellee and I are in UT visiting my family... we made it safe and sound. Our flight on Sunday was cancelled as was church, so we had a lazy day... just perfect. So we flew out on Monday morning and arrived at the same time as my sister in law Laura and her 2 girls, so in a car full of girls we made our way to my parents new house in Centerville. Here we toured and admired the house and new furniture and then we all had some time to get reacquainted. Claire loves looking at another baby and gets really happy.


Ellee too loves seeing another baby but mostly wants to put her in her mouth and eat her.


Best friends in the making.

Woe is me...

I won't get into any details, but let me just tell you... while these products may provide relief for some minor ailments... when the stomach flu hits, don't waste your money. Nothing works. Thus our sprite and saltines diet.


Even that didn't help, but it was the best I could do. The worst part was that Devn was sick too so how in the world are we supposed to take care of a baby when we can't even stand up straight? So I apologize for not blogging for a while... I've been otherwise occupied!

Happy Birthday Devn!

Another year has come and gone. Say goodbye to 27 and hello 28... it is going to be a great year! So to Devn... happy birthday... I love you even more today than yesterday... Just imagine how much I'll love you when your 50!

Because I Can

Hallelujia for digital cameras! While I was between cameras I was going crazy not being able to take any pictures... so I got out my old film camera and went crazy. I used 4 rolls of film in 1 day. It cost $24 to develop the film... and guess how many of the 100 pictures turned out well... maybe 10... yes I have learned my lesson. And may I just repeat... Hallelujia for digital cameras!

Anyhow, since I now have a digital camera again... I can take as many as I want... and since I now have a cute little baby... I will take as many as I want! And since this is my blog... I will do whatever I want... and I want to show off my Ellee! So here is a sampling of our last "photo shoot."

Tickle-Me El(lee)mo

This is why I truely love being a mom... moments like this!!!



This is only 1 minute of about 10... best night ever!

Go-To Meals

We all have our few favorite to eat or easy to make dinners that it seems we make ALL the time. We all get sick of them but somehow forget that we can stray from the usual. We call this a cooking rut. Happens to everyone.

I am interested in what your go to meals are. I need some more dinnertime ideas and I know you can help me fellow bloggers... post your meal... Please!
Here is mine!

Ravioi Lasagna Recipe:

1 bottle of spaghetti sauce (any variety)
1 bag of frozen cheese ravioli
1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess water squeezed dry
1 8-ounce bag shredded mozzarella
1 container of ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Parmesan


Heat oven to 350° F.
Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch or 13-by-9-inch baking dish.
Cover with a single layer of ravioli.
In a seperate bowl, mix the mozzarella, ricotta cheese and eggs together.
Top with half the spinach, half the cheese mixure, and a third of the sauce.
Repeat with another layer of ravioli and the remaining spinach, cheeese, and sauce.
Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes more.
Serve with a delicious green salad and garlic bread.
Enjoy!

*I omit the spinach
*You can add browned hamburger to sausage if you want or just about anything else you want
*I soak the ravioli in hot water while I making the cheese mixture so that they aren't frozen so the baking doesn't take as long.

Say cheese

About 3 weeks ago, Ellee started smiling for the camera... so cute. Whenever the camera is pointed at her, she smiles... but it has to be our little silver digital camera... if I try it with our big black camera, she just looks at it trying to figure out what it is. Again... so cute!

Mmm... I'll what you're having

Funny little girl. She sits and stares at us while we eat. She follows the spoon from our plates to our mouths with her eyes and then looks at us as if saying... "Did that taste good? I bet it did. I sure wish I could have some too." After a while you can't help but feel a little guilty.

So we gave it. We bought a highchair and some infant food and started. She opens her mouth as wide as it will possibly open and lurches after the spoon as far as the highchair will allow. She then proceeds to mush it around in her mouth, grimace and gag. Then as she swallows, she shakes her head as if to tell me that it took everything she had to not throw up. I do recall doing that myself with my vegetables as a child... teenager... okay fine, I still do that. Anyhow, it is a riot to watch. Then she proceeds to open her mouth for more... as if it was the best thing she ever had... or may she thinks it will taste different this time. After we get past this first bite ritual, however, she could eat for hours.

To date she has now sampled (in no particular order) rice cereal, squash, peas, applesauce, pears, and a pink candy heart (thanks to her father... you couldn't even have given her the white one?), and Mountain Dew (yup, thanks again Devn!). As of now she shows no particular preference (except I'm told that she really liked the candy heart and she really didn't like the Dew).

She doesn't much care for water, but sure loves to suck and chew on her sippy cup!

My Poor Baby

I can always count on either Devn or myself to be sick during Christmas. Well, other than the staying up too late playing games and eating junk food induce colds, we made fairly healthy... that is until New Years. Well Devn got really sick with the flu and bronchitis and an ear infection... luckily I didn't get it. Unfortunately, on January 2, the same day Devn flew home to get back for school, Ellee started coughing. That same day I drove down to Salt Lake to hang out with my parents for another week.

That first night in SLC, Ellee woke up at 12:30 am panicking... luckily I hadn't yet gone to bed, so it wasn't too obnoxious. She was so congested that she couldn't breathe. After sucking out her nose a few times she went back to sleep but this time in her car seat so that her nose would drain a bit. Suffice it to say that is was a very long night. Welcome to UT! It seems like the last few trips we've had to UT haven't been all that pleasant... e.i. stolen car... I won't get into that though...

Anyway, really long introduction made short... Ellee was so congested and coughy (is that a word?) that she wouldn't eat so she got a bit dehydrated and since Devn was so sick and likely passed whatever he had on to our baby, I was a bit worried. My mom, a nurse, was even a bit concerned and she is never concerned, so it concerned me even more.

So we took her to the hospital and after 3 1/2 hours & 2 failed IV attempts in her hands... Ellee was pumped full of liquids through an IV in her head and sent home. Thanks Mom, Dad & Kate for waiting so patiently! Sorry, I didn't think it would take that long... and I certainly don't think that it had to anyway. So at least Ellee is okay and by the time flew home, she was already doing a lot better. And at least we got some cute pictures for the scrapbook!

Perfectly content in her oversized hospital gown...

But after 2 hours of sitting doing nothing and 3 needles later... we have not so happy baby.

Generations

Its so neat that I can have pictures that include 4 generations of family. While I was in Utah visiting my parents, we got to spend some time with my mom's parents, Nana and Grandpa Wheat and my dad's mom, Grandma Barlow and it was great to introduce, a.k.a. show off, Ellee to them.

It is amazing to me that because of the faith of my Grandparents, who had faithful kids, who had faithful kids themselves, who are now having their own kids... who we hope will be faithful, you end up with, well I've lost count, but its a lot of people! But the whole family tree thing is so neat and it all stems back to their roots... and I am grateful that my roots were planted in the gospel soil.

Grandma Barlow & Ellee

My dad, Grandma Barlow, me and Ellee

Ellee & Grandma Barlow

Grammy Dette (my mom) & Ellee

Papa Walt (my dad) & Ellee

Me, Nana Wheat, Ellee & Mom

Me, Mom, Ellee & Grandpa Wheat

Ellee & Grandpa Wheat

The best present under the tree!

Just thought I needed to share these great pictures of Ellee in her new outfit she got for Christmas. Luckily Santa surprised me with a new digital camera since my old one broke early November, hence the lack in pictures and blog posts... sorry. So I am repenting and kicking off the new year with a whole bunch of blogs... okay mostly pictures, but that is all you want to see anyway isn't it.

We are a Happy Family!

Now what?

The worst part about Christmas time is when it all ends. You wake up the next day with nothing to look forward to anymore except just spending more time with your family. Then one by one people start to head home and face the real world again and this over-crowded, out of control crazy house is silent. I am sitting where while my sick husband naps, my baby naps, my tired out mother-in-law naps and the house all of the sudden feels very large and empty. Kind of depressing. Kind of peaceful. I am torn. But luckily it is not all over for me... I still have another week to look forward too. On Tuesday I am going to visit my parents who just barely moved to Centerville. They are not yet in their house so I will get to spend some time with my grandparents too and Ellee can get a bit aquainted with her Great Grandparents and reaquainted with Grammy Dette and Papa Walt. Yippee!

Well, I'd might as well post a few pictures from the first half of our Christmas adventure... enjoy!

Ellee with some of her Christmas loot!

Ellee's carpet angel (its kind of like a snow angel) after playing on the ground.

Ellee playing with Grandma Donna.

Ellee and her Cousin Amari Brown... 12 days younger.

Santa Baby

Hurray! No crying baby on Santa's lap! This time next year though I am sure she will be screaming! Devn's school had a party for the all the little elves. Ellee is too little to go play all the games but just little enough for her proud dad to show her off to everyone! Most people were just impressed that Devn could have anything to do with such a good looking baby! I think you're very handsome Devn... don't let anyone make you feel otherwise! Even if our kid is disproportionately cuter than her parents! Oh well... good for us!