Goodbye Halloween...Hello Baby Food!

Through out the month of October we accumulated 4 pumpkins through field trips, Sunday school and Halloween parties. I told myself when we got them that this year we weren't going to let them rot on the front porch until Christmas like we usually do. Nope! This year I (Well, I had my little helper too) actually turned them into something useful- Pumpkin puree! I love to cook with pumpkin and since it is in the squash family I know Matthew will be able to eat it soon too.


Why eat Pumpkin? Here is what I found...


"The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health. Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging. " Gotta love the last part! :)


"First and foremost, the main healthful qualities of pumpkin nutrition are the large amounts of antioxidants and beta-carotene present within the pumpkin. Antioxidants, as most of us know by know due to increased awareness of the importance of healthy living, help strengthen our immune system. (With all this flu stuff going around this is a major reason why the entire family should enjoy pumpkin!) Beta-carotene converts to Vitamin A and helps reduce the risk of cancer and other dangerous diseases.Pumpkins by themselves are also very low in fat and calories, and high in potassium. They also possess a fair amount of Vitamin C and other nutrients, such as Niacin, Vitamin E, Calcium and Iron."

Why make baby food?

I really enjoyed making Macy's food- it was so simple, cheap, and I guess I figured it was healthier since it was fresh and no preservatives are used. It made me feel good anyway. Plus every time Macy would eat the store bought kind (if she would eat it) she would have major stomach issues (or lack of...IF you know what I mean) for days. So that is why we did it! I was even working full time then and found that it only took a few hours a month to make it. My daughter to this day will still choose to eat a banana,broccoli or apple over anything else. So very worth the time.

How to make baby food....

First check to find out when your baby can eat which foods. Their are some foods you should not try and make at home too. Plus each food is different and has different methods of cooking/pureeing and storage life. I will post more as I'm going through this journey again, but I thought I would start out today with pumpkin and how we made it.

Simple and easy steps to making pumpkin puree:

1. Cook the pumpkin (Wash before cooking) Remove stem, cut in half, use spoon to take out all seeds and other stuff, then put upside down on cookie sheet and cook in oven for 1 1/2 hours at 35o. I placed some water in the bottom of the sheet with foil on top to make a steam tent for the pumpkins.

2. Peel off skin of pumpkin and toss. Then puree the pumpkin with blender (No need to add water b/c pumpkins are full of it anyway)

3. Place in ice cube container and freeze for a 2-3 hours or until firm.

4. Pop out of container and place in ziplock bag (will keep for up to 6 months)

I had lots of extra puree so I measured it out and placed in ziplock bags in 1-2 cup servings for other recipes.

What to do with the puree...

One of the best things we have tried is peanut butter pumpkin spread (Thank you Erica for the idea!!!) It is great! Just mix the 1 Tbs Peanut Butter with 2 Tbs Pumpkin and you can add a dash of pumpkin pie spice if you want. It is awesome on toast or even as a snack with apples or graham crackers- Macy LOVES it!! You can't even taste the pumpkin and it is super creamy and smooth.

Here are a few links to some other great sites: http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Pumpkin-Recipes/Detail.aspx

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/pumpkin-babyfood-recipes.htm

http://www.eatingwell.com/ - By far my most FAVORITE website of all time. Just search by pumpkin and get tons of great recipes that are healthy too!

Hope you can enjoy your pumpkins more than just on your doorstep this year!

Where has this month gone?

So I just realized that this month is almost over and I've only posted 2 other entries. To be honest I started this with the intentions of updating my family on the kidos. Well, since both sets of grandparents have made visits this month I guess their was less 'updating' to be done. I still send about 50 pictures/week to them but just less journaling.

I'm not sure what has kept me away from the computer...never mind....I totally know what has kept me from the computer! MY KIDS!!! And I mean that in a wonderful way. We have had a great month- very busy with activities, walks, playtime and even making some crafts.

During a recent MOPS meeting our leader talked about purposely enjoying every minute of our life right now....b/c let's be honest sometimes it is really, really hard to do that. But I found that if I purposly just try and enjoy every minute of even the most stressful of days I ALWAYS find something that I try to imprint on my mind forever. I know someday my kids will go to school and leave me for several hours in a day and eventually go off to school and leave for several days (even weeks) at at time...and I'm okay with that...but these few years are all I'm going to have with JUST me. And I guess selfishly I'm trying to make the best of every minute of it. Then again, I don't know if it is the hormones (I can still use that for a few more months right? :>) or the sad death of a friend of mine's little nephew who died from complications from the flu. (He was perfectly healthy one day and then a few days later a mom had to say good bye to her little boy forever. Something that no mom should ever have to do.) But it has really got me thinking...you just never know what each day is going to bring...good or bad. So I guess you could say I've been busy trying to purposely enjoy each day- a very easy thing to do with 2 little ones around always making me smile!

Now I encourage you to purposely try and enjoy each day...no matter what stage in life you are in. It is amazing at what you will see!

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin

Check this out! Our baby Matthew is mobile!!!

Healthy and Yummy Breakfast for the family

Mornings can be so crazy! No matter your kids ages, and who stays home or who goes out the door...everyone needs a healthy breakfast. Try these muffins!!! They are great--I added about 1/2 tsp of baking soda for an extra fluff. Macy even ate 3 of them at a time!


http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roxies-Bran-Muffins/Detail.aspx?src=etaf

Splashing in the puddles

By the looks of this you would think it was Spring! What kid doesn't like to splash in the puddles?? MINE! :)

Macy really got into it the other day but apparently she didn't want to get dirty the day I took this video- it is still cute though!

The latest on our little family

Tomorrow is game 4 of our 12 week football season. So far we have yet to bring home a win but we are having a great end of summer/ beginning of fall around the Naylor house.

My babies are just growing!!! Matthew is 13 weeks now and over 15lbs! He is wearing 6-9 month clothing and is just huge! I just love that little man and his chubby thighs!! Macy wasn't this size until she was almost 6 months old. I have a feeling he is going to pass her up before his first birthday (she is only 27lbs at 2 1/2)!!!

The days just seem to fly by! I really don't know what happens to them. We seem to have such a busy schedule with MOPS, Mommy and Me, and play groups that I can't believe it is almost October already! Wow! We really do have a great group of moms and their children to spend some of our days with- I feel really blessed to belong to such great groups!

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks. Will have more pics soon because we have some special outings planned with our little friends!

Macy in an airplane at the Muncie airport with Mommy and Me.

Baby Matthew-he is just so fragile looking don't you think?

Macy drawing on her new easel- if you would like a painting just let me know. She loves to paint half dressed as you can see!

Macy was in a friend's wedding last weekend- she was a beautiful flower girl!

My two guys!

This is by far one of my most favorite pictures taken so far of these two!

Cracks me up each time I see it!

Getting your vitamins

We all know we need to eat vegtables and up until a few days ago I felt that I was doing a good job at eating them and getting them in my family. However, now it seems that getting vegtables down my 2 yr old and hubby seems to be getting harder. I don't know what the change is and instead of bribing them into eating them (Macy not Mark :>) I just hide them!

So I'm not as scared about this swine flu but still doesn't hurt to take some precautions. I'm trying to beef up the amount of healthy things in our diet starting with fruits and veggies- the first is cauliflower- packed with tons of Vitamin C.

I bought some cauliflower the other day- but once I got it home I couldn't come up with something to make that I thought they would eat and would be healthy. Thought about smothering them with cheese but that would just make it harder to fit back into my pre pregnancy pants!!

I remembered a recipe that I had made when I was doing the low carb thing for a wedding I was in a few years ago. Cauliflower mashed potatoes! Talk about a hit! I added a few herbs from my 'herb garden' in my window and a little butter. They were great!

However by the next day I was tired of them as 'mashed potatoes'....they were now leftovers and doomed to stay in the refrigerator until something started growing on them and I had to toss them. Then another brainy idea....Shepard's Pie.

Side note: We would have Shepard's Pie all the time in our college cafeteria but I never tried it. Those of you that know me know that I never like my food to touch (neither did my husband- aren't we a perfect match!) so I never ate it. I don't know if it was the fact that I see my daughter's food all thrown together by the time meal time is over or the fact that I had everything in the refrigerator right there and I knew I could have a homemade meal in 15 minutes??? Who knows?

So here is what I did....

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Steam a head of cauliflower (cut up in pieces) and then put in blender. Add herbs, salt and pepper and a few tablespoons of milk (or water). I then added a small amount of butter. They will look and taste like the real thing! Promise!

Shepard's Pie
Brown hamburger meat (use lean meat or even turkey), add corn and peas (I actually had both of these as leftovers already in the refrigerator so check there first) either from canned or frozen and place in a baking pan. Season with salt and pepper, garlic salt, or I even used a seasoning salt that I used on chicken or steak. Spread your 'mashed potatoes' on top of the beef/veggie mixture and then put some cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 20 min. Super Yummy, healthy, and great for a nice fall day! The family loved them too!

I strongly believe that every fruit and vegetable has its purpose on this earth and that the more variety you have in your diet the better. Still not sure why I even bought cauliflower but I think sometimes your body just craves certain foods b/c they need something from them! Very glad I bought it b/c it opened my eyes to trying new and creative things.

The faith of a child

On our way home from Bible Study today Macy asked me..."Mom, where is Jesus?"

Humm...how am I going to answer this one? Where is her daddy...he always comes up with something quick and clever when she asks this sort of stuff.

So I said "He is in heaven"...it was really quiet back there...so then I added...."Waay up in the sky".

That seemed to help for a moment but then she asked as she was looking out the window "But I don't seem him...where is him (still working on grammar here)...where is Jesus Mommy?"

I should have gone into all the ways Jesus is around us...like how he made the flowers and the sun and the clouds and how he made us...but I wasn't thinking at the time and I wasn't sure if that would confuse her or not. So I just said it again..."He is up there....really high in the sky...really he is!"

And that was it....she didn't ask any more questions about Jesus. Sometimes I wish I had that precious faith of a child...so innocent and sweet and trusting.

Some day she will be like me- all grown up and have experienced just enough of life to question certain things. But I hope that she will be strong enough in her faith that she will again be able to just accept things and trust that Jesus is always there (even when you can't see Him).

Maybe it will take her daughter to remind her of that too!

My Weekly Must Do's

I really love to cook...or I used to before I had children. Not that I still don't love to try new recipies or cook a great meal- don't get me wrong. The thing that I don't like now that I have two little ones is that I never have enough time to either 1) shop for the items to cook a detailed menu or 2) stay in the kitchen longer than 15 min!!! You moms know this! I'm always getting interrupted by someone needing something- food, drink, fed, changed, answer the phone, etc. Not that I'm complaining....it is just where I'm at in life...and I know I'm not alone.

I've noticed that when I'm hungry I really don't care what it is...I will eat it. If it is easy and quick I will eat it. Not always good or healthy but that is the truth of it. Now that I'm back to my healthy eating ways (no more pregnancy hormones to blame for junk) I have incorporated a few things on my shopping list that I always, always get and a few things that I always, always make on Sunday (sometimes Monday) nights.

For starters...I always buy fresh carrots (already washed and cut up - either the baby carrots or the sliced carrot chips) and brocolli heads. Then once a week I steam the entire back of carrots and at least 2-3 heads of brocolli (we love it). Once it is done I add a little olive oil and some seasoning salt for flavor and put them into bowls and shake until covered. There! Vegtables for a week!!!

Second thing I do is buy fresh fruit- mainly grapes, apples, bananas, nectarines, strawberries, and blueberries. Usually 2-3 of these for variety and whatever is on sale is what I usually buy. Then once a week I cut them up, chop off the stems, get out the seeds, take off the vine, etc. That way they are immediately ready to eat. Sometimes it is fun to throw them all in a container for a fruit salad. This way at each meal all I have to do is take out my container of fruit (along with my veggies) and serve!

So that takes care of the fruits and veggies for my family. Next, I usually make 12-18 hard boiled eggs. I peel them, rise, and throw into a plastic tub in the frige. I love eggs for a quick breakfast (with some w. wheat toast) cut and warmed up with a little bit of salt and pepper. Great way to sneak in a fast breakfast with lots of protein. Or my new favorite summer thing (and Mark's favorite snack at work) is egg salad. I made it by cutting up several eggs and tossing in a few tablespoons of mayo (I use the kind made from olive oil) and a dash of salt. Again, tons of protien and you can make several days of it and have it ready in the frige for a quick meal or snack.

My favorite is to put egg salad in a whole wheat pita with some spinach and a sliced pickle. It is sooo easy and incredibly yummy and healthy. You can also make up chicken salad or just use leftovers from the night before (chicken, roast, steak, even hamberger) and put it on a pita with some spinach (a little ranch or salad dressing won't hurt). All very easy and healthy ways to reuse leftovers.

One more thing...I always keep a bag of ground flax seed in the frige. So if I make pancakes, pizza dough, home made chickn cord on blue, chicken parmesan (did I mention I have great friends who give me lots of yummy recipies?? :>) or anything that requires bread crumbs or dough I always throw some in. That at least adds something good into a meal that could not be so great for you. Of course when I make these I always substitute applesauce when it calls for oil and olive oil when it calls for butter or oil and the low fat cheese isn't that bad either. Plus our favorite pizza is cheese and green peppers...it is a veggie too you know! :)

So if you haven't noticed I don't mind leftovers...I used to hate them as a kid (don't we all) but now if I don't have to cook a meal and I can get a healthy quick meal on the table- I'm all about it! Maybe some day I will wake up and realize what I'm eating and think 'gross'...sure it was quick and healthy but what were you thinking!!! But I doubt it b/c to me if it is quick and easy I just don't care...and to be healthy makes it even better!

Matthew Talking

This was the day Matthew got his shots- and he was still as happy as can be! What a great kid!

A Smile

Finally caught on camera...a smile from Mr. Matthew!!!

Something new

When I first started this blog it was to help me share pictures, videos and memories of my kidos with family and friends. None of that is changing but I am also going to start sharing something new.

Now 2 months after having Matthew I am still stuck with some extra (normal but still unwanted) baby weight. I know it will come off in time but it wasn't super easy with Macy and so far seems to be much harder with Matthew (2 years closer to 30 so I'm guessing something with my wonderful metabolism...great...). Anyway I really do enjoy eating healthy, not only because I (well, really WE...married to a strength coach really helps too) believe that it also instills healthy eating habits in our kids and helps us stay healthy and happy. I know with exercising and eating right it will come off...just not over night. Sometimes I think we all know what to eat and the things that are good for us and the things we should avoid...but I am one of those people who if I start studying nutrition and seriously thinking about what I'm fueling my body with I don't even want the unhealthy stuff.

Don't get me wrong I am not saying that I don't love my body b/c after having kids what woman can't say that their body is a miraculous thing! It is just I don't like not fitting into my clothes...and I'm too cheap to go out and buy a new wardrobe! So for now, until I can loose this extra 20lbs I'm just squeezing into whatever I can and using the wonderful Belly Band that I had with I first got pregnant with Macy! Gotta love that thing!

So in addition to updates on the kids I thought I would start sharing some yummy and healthy recipes as well as some interesting nutrition tips that I find along the way.

To start off here are two great recipes that I've found.

The first is for Mac n Cheese with yellow squash in it. I copied it off another website and that link is: http://www.oprah.com/recipe/food/recipespasta/pkgjessicaseinfeldsdeceptivelydelicious. It is WONDERFUL...and if you make it with low fat cheese and whole grain pasta it is a great meal all in one! Super easy! I have even heard of making the sauce ahead of time and freezing it so all you have to do when you want it is thaw and make the pasta. Macy really loves this too!

The second is for hummus...I know what your thinking...hummus??? YES hummus!! I copied this from another blog:

http://lichtyfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/recipe-for-cilantro-lime-hummus.html

It is great with wheat thins as an appetizer or served on whole wheat tortillas as a meal! It is low fat and packed with tons of protein and super easy to make in a hurry heading out the door! We have even taken it for lunch to the park b/c it doesn't need refrigeration and is a great alternative to PB and Jelly sandwiches. I can't wait for Matthew's belly to develop a little more b/c last time I tried this it didn't agree with him.

I think Sally Fields says it best in her Osteoporosis TV ad...she says something like "We are only given this one body and I'm going to take care of it the best I can." Great words to remember!

So there it is...hopefully the first of many postings on healthy living!

Old McPapaw had a farm...

Spaghetti with a twist

When Matthew was born we were so blessed by friends from our play group, MOPS, and from church with about 3 weeks worth of food---It was so nice to not have to worry about cooking or shopping for food (or cleaning up for that matter)!

One of our favorites was a baked spaghetti that a neighbor and friend from church made. She posted the recipe on our MOPS blog so I thought I would share it too. I made it this week for Macy and I to eat on for the next several days (it is amazing how little of food we go through when Mark isn't eating here)! You can use canned sauce but I actually found a recipe of allrecipes.com for homemade tomato sauce and since I had about 20 tomatoes from our garden I thought I would give it a try. It was so tasty and worth the 4 hours of cooking time. The smell of it even woke Macy up from her nap...she asked "Mommy, what are you cooking? It smells GOOOOD!!!" So cute!

My friend, Lori, said that you can make these up ahead of time and freeze them and they turn out great. I made extra sauce and froze it so next time all I have to do is cook the noodles and combine the stuff. Also, if you use whole wheat pasta, lean beef or turkey and low fat cottage cheese it is a pretty healthy dinner. I also make my sauce with diced up carrots and celery so it even had veggies - super easy way to sneak them into husbands and kids! ha!

ENJOY!

Spaghetti Pie

16 oz spaghetti, cooked al dente
1/4 c margarine
1 egg slightly beaten
1/2-3/4 c parmesan cheese
16 oz cottage cheese
1/2 pound ground beef, browned with 1/2 onion and drained
1 jar spaghetti sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti and drain, melt in the margarine, add egg and parmesan cheese and mix well. Press this mixture into a greased, 9x13 pan. Spoon cottage cheese over top evenly. Crumble ground beef over top. Season with salt and pepper. Spread sauce over evenly. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes until center is hot. Remove foil, top with mozzarella cheese and return to oven until melted.

Variations: For a vegetarian dish, omit gr beef and add a layer of spinach (be sure to squeeze out as much water as possible) thinly sliced zucchini are good and so are black olives.

If you have a small family, make two 8x8 casseroles and freeze one. Be sure to put saran wrap over the pie before the aluminum foil or the sauce will eat the foil. Allow a frozen pie to sit in the fridge overnight to thaw and it might take a few more minutes to bake.

My other baby

Not sure if Macy is having second thoughts about this big sister thing or not.

She did tell me last week that it was time for Matthew to go back in mommy's belly! I told her that he was to big to go in my belly and he has to stay out and play with us! I guess she thought that was alright b/c she hasn't said anything since then. She sure likes to love on him and play with his toys!

Matthew kicking and moving

Feeding the Ducks

Today we went to BSU's pond to have a picnic and feed the ducks.

Matthew - 6 weeks old

Family Pictures

We had our friend Jeanell take these pictures while we were at the farm. Didn't she do a great job???

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41042076@N03/sets/
Click slideshow at the top right hand corner to view in full screen

Macy singing "1-2-3-4-5...I caught a fish alive"

Macy can sing the entire song by herself but of course as soon as the camera is out she forgets the words! WARNING: Watching this video more than a few times may cause you to sing this song all day!!!

Here are the words:

1-2-3-4-5

I caught a fish alive

6-7-8-9-10

I let him go again

Why did you let him go?

Because he bit my finger so

Which finger did he bite?

The little finger on the right!

I will apologize now if this song gets stuck in your head for the rest of the day!!! But it always makes my day to hear her sing-Have a great weekend!!!

Matthew - 1 Month

Matthew is officially 5 weeks old now and since it has been almost that long since my last post and the kids are both sleeping (wonder how long that will last?) it is about time that I get on here and update everyone on the last month of our lives!

Overall life with 2 kids has been amazing! Sure their have been the sleepless nights, birth announcements and thank yous to write, and the mounds of laundry and dishes waiting in the sink...but as hard as it has been for me I have kept telling myself that those things can wait! And it isn't like they have a choice either b/c little Matthew has really developed a love of wanting to being held all the time. Thank goodness for the lovely sling that my mom and I made- it sure has come in handy...I really need to post some pictures of that on here too.

Matthew has his 1 month check up later today but I'm guessing he is almost 12lbs now. Little man LOVES to eat and I can't believe how big he has gotten in the past week alone. I am nursing and I can't believe how easy it has been this time around....but I find myself saying that a lot lately. Maybe it is because Matthew is more laid back, or maybe it is because Mark and I are more relaxed- who knows?

All I know is that life is really good right now and that God has really blessed our little family!

Just Matthew

I'm having a problem....

Matthew is 9 days old today and I am finding that it is so hard to just take pictures of JUST him! One reason is because I am finding less time these days to take the pictures and second I feel like I am leaving Macy out.

Now I'm sure this is normal and anyone out there that has more than one child knows what I'm talking about but I feel so guilty. I just know some day he is going to grow up and look back at his baby pictures and realize that he has less than his sister...or maybe he won't care as much because boys are not into pictures as much as girls.

Either way, I am trying to make sure that I start taking pictures of just Matthew and push the guilt out of the way!

Having Fun!

Macy and Matthew

Matthew - 1 week old

Baby Matthew is here!

Matthew Isaac Naylor was born June 25, 2009 at 1:29pm

weighing 8lbs 9oz and measuring 21 in long (and that was 3 weeks early)!!

He is the perfect baby- eats and sleeps well and is just very content.

We really hope it stays that way! :)

Less and less time to update the blog lately but here are a few pics:

The latest on baby Matthew

Went in for my 37 week check up today. All along Mark and I had talked with the Dr about babies in our family always being big and the possibility of delivering early. Well, in order for the Dr. to induce me at 37 weeks he said he would have to do an amnio to detect lung maturity in little Matthew. Sounded good to me, even though I was a little nervous about a huge needle going in my tummy I knew that it might help my chances of Matthew being in my arms sooner than later.

Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, just nauseous and crampy all day. When I told the Dr that he said he wanted to go ahead and do another exam. He found that I was now 4cm dilated and that the baby was in -1 station (last week I as 3 cm and at -3 station). So far he is doing everything to make the Dr and his momma happy! :)

So lots of good came out of this appointment:

* I will be induced on Thursday (6/25) at 6am!!!

* The think Matthew only weighs 8lbs 3oz (I say ONLY b/c he still should have 3 more weeks to 'cook' which would make him 10 lbs)!!! His growth and weight have sort of stalled out and are now more in the 90th percentile instead of over the 100th percentile!!

* He has LOTS of long hair!

* Dr seemed very confident that I should be able to deliver him on my own!

* And most of all Matthew looks very happy and healthy!

We will keep everyone posted and promise to post new pictures of Matthew and his big sister as soon as we can!

It's like a fish...

I wonder what goes through this little girls' head? I know one thing....we will be counting the fish in the pond every night just to make sure someone isn't sneaking out and getting a snack! :)

Let's go swimming...

I finally have a chance to upload some of our swimming pictures from last week. Macy really likes the water this year but I think she would enjoy the pool a lot more if she had some actual toys to play with instead of just cups. Maybe I should put that on my shopping list! :)

I was able to take Macy to the pool in Yorktown (thanks to a good friend of ours that brought us as her guests). Macy played with the other kids in the little kid pool while the mommy's talked and played with them. After the 100th time we played Ring Around The Rosey we eventually went into the big pool - Macy had a blast!!! She loved the pool last year but this year she laughed the entire time she was 'swimming'. It felt good for this 9 month pregnant lady too! :)

It was during this time we spent in the big kid pool that I realized two things:

1. Macy will NEVER EVER come to a pool with a boy and

2. Macy will always wear a one piece...or at least something that covers more than just the essentials- it was shocking to see what these girls were wearing...or shall I say...NOT wearing...Geez!

I know I may lighten up by the time she is a teenager but I seriously doubt it!

Couldn't have set this up if I had tried...

While I was getting us ready to go to the pool today I realized that Macy had been very quiet for a few minutes...usually not a bad thing but you just never know. Sometimes I find her reading books, sometimes I find her sitting on her potty reading books, sometimes she really is into something making a big mess. But I was never expecting to see this!

When I first asked Macy what she was looking at she replied "Chipmunks, Squirrels, Rabbits, and Birds!" Of course she didn't say that all on camera but I always wonder what goes through her head when I find her doing such grown up things! :) And no, we do not have raccoons in our yard...but the other creatures are always running around...gives us something to watch during the day.

My latest Dr appointment

Yesterday I had my 35 week appointment. Dr. wanted to go ahead and check me to see how things were moving along. I knew with all the contractions I have been having and the pain and pressure that something was going on- I'm already 3cm dilated and 75% effaced! He was shocked and mentioned that I may not make it until the scheduled amnio on the 22nd! Yikes! They really want to keep the baby in until at least 36 weeks so I have a few more days of just taking it easy (darn!).

So of course I go home and sit on the couch for 1.5 seconds and Macy is wanting something in the kitchen, then she wants to go outside, then it is supposed to be nap time (and mine too!), but I have to make her sit still some how some where to take a nap (which didn't work by the way), then she pooped her pants....and I wonder why I'm already dilated so much!

We have put the whole potty training thing on hold for now. Macy is wearing pull ups b/c she has been having lots of accidents during the day...that is also the day we got out the baby swing, carseat,bouncy seat, and all of Matthew's clothes, blankets and diapers. I think it is just all to much right now (for her and myself) so if she wants to go I take her but if she has an accident I'm not going to have to wonder where the puddle is and how I'm going to get down on all 4's to clean it up!

Right now we are just enjoying life in these last few days of being a family of 3, trying to make sure Macy knows how much she is loved and how special a big sister can be. I sure hope for a smooth transition into this family of 4 thing! I just can't wait to meet Matthew and finally get to hold him in my arms and introduce him to his wonderful family.

5 Years ago today Mark and I got married- it is amazing how 'time really does fly'! I would never have believed anyone if they would have told me that 5 years from the day I was wearing my wedding dress that I would be preparing for the birth of my second child! It has been 5 wonderful years with my best friend and I can't wait to see what will happen in the next 5 years (and beyond)...although I can guarantee it won't be 2 more children! :)

Baby Matthew's Nursery

After yesterday's appointment I thought I better get the final touches added to Matthew's nursery!!!

Ultrasound pictures

Baby Update

Well, it turns out that I am having a small toddler rather than a baby!

I had my 34 week Dr's appointment today with an ultrasound to check on this little guy's growth....they were shocked to see that he is already weighing in at 7lbs 12 oz!!! His size is off the charts and I am also carrying a lots and lots of amnionic fluid- which now explains why I get asked if I'm having twins about once a week! :) He also has a large head and with the trouble I had delivering Macy at 8lbs 9oz they are giving me two options:

1. Have a scheduled C-Section close to 39/40 weeks or
2. Have an amniocentesis done at 37 weeks, and if it shows that the lungs are developed then they will induce me a few days later. It still may lead to a C-Section but at least we tried

My next appointment is the 11th (one day before Mark and I's 5th wedding anniversary!) and they will check to see if I have started dilating then. I will have another appointment the 18th and then my amniocentesis done on the 22nd. If the lungs show that they are developed then we will be induced sometime that week!

Dr also mentioned to me that with the size of the baby and the amount of amnionic fluid that I may go into labor on my own in the next few weeks. Lots and lots to take away from this appointment and although it answered (or at least confirmed) some of my fears and questions it still leaves so much up in the air.

Please keep us all in your prayers that no matter what happens that we have a healthy baby boy to hold when this is all over with! He sure is a cutie- I will try and video some of the pictures and post them on here later! He looks nothing like Macy did in my 3D ultrasounds I had with her- so maybe he will look more like his mommy....I know with his size he sure is taking after the Obermann side!

We have a name...

Well, I think we finally have a name...

A few weeks ago Mark and I were talking in the car and I just said what I had been feeling for a few days...."I think I finally feel that their is a name I can call this baby boy!"

Mark said he too had been feeling more settled at the same name...

So here it is- Matthew Naylor

We are still unsure of the middle name but it will either be Aaron or Isaac (which is Mark's middle name).

My next Dr's appointment is June 3rd, so we will know more about a possible scheduled induction later in June at that time. The Dr just wants to check his size and make sure that he is not going to be a toddler size baby! Will keep everyone posted!

Having a Tea Party....in our PJ's

After breakfast Macy thought it would be a good idea to have a tea party with her babies....make sure and check out the background in the picture. Looks like we already have a newborn in this house huh? Macy has decided that the baby Moses basket, swing, and baby bed are hers...not her brother's! Hopefully by the time he is born she will be over them and will let him sleep in them. :)

Belly Pics- 32 weeks

My pregnant belly with Macy on our way to the hospital (40 weeks)

My pregnant belly with Baby Boy (32 weeks)


My pregnant belly with Macy (35 weeks)

My pregnant belly with Baby Boy (32 weeks)

I have been meaning to take pictures of this belly of mine for a week or so now but something always kept preventing me from taking them...I wouldn't have any make up on, I needed to shower, I was to tired, or I couldn't find anything that was clean that still fit!! Not that I am that vain or think that I was having a model photo shoot or anything but after all these pictures would be in my baby's baby book forever!

So I just decided that I am a mom of a 2 year old and soon to be newborn. I should look a little tired, and it was okay if my hair was a mess or my clothes were dirty....that is just going to be the new normal around here! So last night around 11pm (We were only up that late b/c Mark and I had both taken naps) I finally just said "It is time"!

Today as I was uploading them to my computer I realized how big my belly really was. Just to prove it I got out some pictures of my pregnancy with Macy at around the same times- "WOW" is all I have to say!!! And I still have a few weeks to go!

Major Accomplishments

So the day before we left to make a fast trip back to Missouri Macy decided that she wanted to start wearing big girl panties and not diapers! I was thrilled, shocked, and worried how all of this was going to fit into our travel plans. But it went very well- we just brought her potty chair with us, lots of little girl panties, and made sure she had on a diaper in the car (we weren't that crazy)!! She did great at my parent's house and even went potty in a public bathroom! Now that we have been home she is doing even better, I think only 1 accident in the last week and that was a #2!

Macy seems to do better when we let her do things "All by myself"...don't know where she learned that phrase but it is now a daily reminder we have a 2 year old! She does the whole potty process literally all by herself...which is much easier on this pregnant mamma since Macy seems to think she has to be 1/2 dressed while going potty...every single time!

So I have 2 questions for other mommy's out there who are going through this or who have been down this road before....

1. How do you get them to go #2 in the potty?

2. When do you start letting them go diaper free at bedtime and nap time?

I am totally puzzled by all of this and honestly it is a lot more work than diapers! But I can say that the thought of the diaper savings (at least for a few months) is really exciting me!!!

What's in a name?

Apparently a lot! Here we are just a few weeks away from having this little boy and still have yet to find a name that just sounds like something we want to say....and yell...forever. With Macy it just felt right. From the moment we found out it was a girl we had it narrowed down between 2 names- Madison and Macy. But Macy Leigh just fit and sounded like it should follow Mark and Melissa when saying our family names. It is somewhat stressful because we have never been able to come up with a boy name that started with an 'M' that we both just said "that's it". And you would be amazed (well, you other moms maybe not) at how MANY people have their opinions (and comments and accusations said- of course behind my back) on the names you do have it narrowed down to, the names you haven't chosen, the way you are picking your name, etc. Why do people do this??? I mean seriously.....eventually we ARE going to pick a name and it might be the name that they so boldly came right out and said they didn't' like!!!

So we are doing something we have always said that we would never, ever do. Our child will not have a name until we see and hold it! If we do decide on a name before then well....then we will be lucky but don't count on it!

Maybe it is because I a little hormonal today or it is because of the lack of sleep I seem to already be getting but I felt the huge need to vent at 5:30am on a Saturday. Thanks for listening! And I highly suggest that if anyone else is pregnant out there to NOT share the name until it is 100% decided or the kid is born! I had never understood this until now!!!

Bedtime

Okay, Before I go to bed I have to share this funny Macy story…

She has been going to bed very easily lately- we read books, talk about what we did today and what we are going to do tomorrow, say our prayers and that is it. I leave keep the door open and the hall light on and she goes to bed! She now knows the routine and goes to bed on her own with out throwing a fit- finally!

Well, the other night I went in to cover her up and ALL of her stuffed animals in her room (we are talking like 10) and ALL of her baby dolls (maybe another 3) plus 3 different books were in bed with her- I could barely find her! Then last week I laid her down for her nap and an hour later heard a noise in the babies room. I went down the hall to check on it and there she was-in his room reading books and playing with her toys! All that time I thought she had been asleep – but instead she was in his room with the door shut playing very quietly!

Okay, so tonight we did the same bedtime routine and she went to bed very easily like normal. I just went in to cover her up and there she was with all of her toys again in her bed plus she had gotten into her closet and put on a pair of black shoes (ones that she will NEVER wear for me) and had fallen asleep in them! We have the monitor on and never heard a peep out of her! She had even closed the closet door after she had gotten the shoes out!

Mark and I are still laughing about our little girl- she is getting so grown up!

More Easter Fun

Macy and I decorated cookies today with Easter frosting and sprinkles. We made them partly b/c baby brother was wanting them (I can only use that for so long and I am taking full advanatage of this pregnancy thing) and b/c I thought Macy would enjoy them too....I think we all did!

Okay...so these are a few days late but every Sunday night we hard boil 18 eggs for Mark to take to work with him for the week. So we waited and dyed our eggs a day late- still lots of fun! And the best part is Mark is actually taking them to work WITH the shells on!! I think it is pretty cute!

My how things have changed!

I was just looking through old pictures of Macy (sometimes that is how we pass time around here) and saw some pictures of Macy in her prior Easter dresses....wow, has she ever changed!

Macy's first Easter- 10 days old

Macy's second Easter- 1 year old almost to the date

Macy's third Easter- 2 years and 2 weeks old (better picture coming soon!)

Who knew?

In high school and college I would teach at our church's Vacation Bible School in the summer. Those days are finally paying off. We have had TONS of rain lately and the days get pretty long with not being able to play outside. I remembered a great thing we used to do with the little ones in VBS- let them play with shaving cream!!! I stocked up on this stuff at the store and we have played with it several times. And surprisingly my little girl who hates to get dirty LOVES it! It is cheap, easy to clean up and can't hurt them if they eat it either...well, I am sure it might make them not feel good if they eat a ton of it but you know a little taste can't hurt! :)

Easter Weekend

Mark, Macy and I had a wonderful Easter weekend. It would have been perfect if we would have been able to spend it with our families but since Ball State scheduled their football Spring game on Easter weekend going home wasn't even an option. Saturday was the game and I ventured out with Macy at nap time (kick off was at 1pm) to watch the game. She did great, the team looked great, and we got to spend extra time with Mark after the game and meet some of the players and other coaches and their families. Macy fell asleep on the way home around 3 and took a good nap while Mark and I enjoyed some peace and quiet!

That night all of the coaches and their wives went out to a local restaurant to play in the annual shuffle boarding contest. We got a baby sitter and had a great date night- our first in many months! Mark and I made it to the 2nd round of the tournament. For those of you who think shuffle boarding is for old folks home entertainment- you are wrong! We have always had a blast at this tournament and look forward to next year.

Sunday we went to church and then over to the Carr's house. They are such wonderful people- we knew them from the last time we lived in Muncie. They had a fantastic lunch and even an egg hunt for Macy and some of the other kids that were there. Macy ate about a pound of M&M's and didn't go down for a nap until 6pm! She was up until 10 and then slept until 9am this morning! That little girl had never had so much candy in her life! It was pretty cute watching her eat it- and besides not every day is Easter! She learned the meaning of having a Sugar High!!!

Some pictures of Macy at one of her egg hunts:

Some day I will get a picture of her actually looking at the camera and I am going to retake some without her coat on too.