Happy Birthday Mom & Grandma!!

We love you so very much and hope you have a great birthday. Looking forward to grilling your salmon, eating bruschetta, going to the fair and eating yummy Rhubarb dessert with you today!!

Bittersweet life lessons....

These past couple of weeks I have been feeling quite tired with the pregnancy and still nursing Angel, even though it has only been in the mornings and at nights. This last week, I noticed that my milk had dropped dramatically and then turned to colostrum (I guess which is a normal thing for this stage of my pregnancy). My body is already getting ready for the new little one. As I am about to start my third trimester here soon and considering the status of my milk supply, I decided that it was time to truly wean Angel off the nursing habit, which is what I think it is for her more now than anything and for comfort. So this morning was the first time I went without nursing my sweet little girl. I had to distract her when she wanted to nurse and yes, had some good tears over it as well. While I know this is all part of her growing up and me getting ready for another little one, it is hard to "let go" in a sense of such a special bond we have shared these past 16 months...so I think tonight I will still nurse and slowly wean MYSELF off of our special time and routine...

Congrats Captain Caitlin....

Alright sis, although I had to hear the news from mom (you need to call me)...CONGRATS on being nominated one of your college soccer team's Captains this year. You are a true leader and I am so proud of you!!

Cool Dude...

Angel was sporting her hat from Grandmaw H. today...she has started to like hats a bit more. Every time she sees hats now, she sings the Barney Silly Hat song...

Meme's Famous Chocolate Mousse

Made this last night....very yummy...for recipe click on picture!!

Our little singer...

The other night we were at my folks with some friends for dinner. My sister Alli got out the karaoke machine and the music started. At some point Angel decided she would give it a shot and started singing away...then would wait for the applause, laugh and start again...

24 Weeks and Feeling Good and Big Already....

Music....

I finally figured how to get the site to play music..hope you like...still working on finding songs I like...

Recipes to Share this week....

Today I made this Chocolate Zucchini Bread with our fresh zucchini from the garden...we have so much I am trying to find any recipes with zucchini to make. It is yummy!!

Last Sunday, I made this dessert....it was a hit. Thanks Linda for the recipe!!

All you moms......question!!

OK, so Angel has her first real diaper rash. We have always been able to get rid of little ones easily with Burt's Bees Diaper ointment, or Amolin, or Butt paste.......but this time nothing seems to be working. Even trying Desitin. Any magic cures for diaper rashes that you experienced moms have found??

Caitlin's Scrimmage

Caitlin had a scrimmage against SPU the other day in Seattle. It was good to see her play and use that ankle again....we can't wait to watch more soccer this fall....go CU!! (She is #6, blue)

Menu Plan Monday, or Friday?

Ok Ok....for those that asked me to post it, even if it is late...here it is for this week....


Monday: White Chicken Chili & Cornbread
Tuesday: Sandwiches or something easy for Concert in Park night
Wednesday: Chuck Roast (just sprinkle packet of Lipton dry onion soup mix over roast and bake covered in foil in 300 oven for 3-4 hours), mashed potatoes & sauteed squash and zucchini from garden
Thursday: Italian Vegetable Soup & Bread sticks
Friday: Pizza with family
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Dinner with family

Try and win...

Thanks Mary for the heads up...5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a 37" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV with help from Best Buy. Check it out, although I hope to win!!

We miss you already Caitlin...

...Caitlin left yesterday to start her Junior year of college and soccer. We miss you already. If you are interested in her soccer schedule, check it out here.

Last week Concert in the Park....

At long last....apologies...

I finally gave up waiting to get all the pics from friends before I shared. For those that have been curious...here are pics from my parents surprise 30th anniversary party we threw them. It was a big success and they were very surprised. While the weather wasn't great, it was so nice to have so many family and friends to help us celebrate. We even were able to have the same kind of cake, make them cut it and feed each other, and yes even dance to their wedding song. Good memories....when I get the other pics I will share. Enjoy and thanks to all you shared the day with us, in person and in spirit!!

Way to go Mom and Jason!!

This past Saturday, my mom and Jason ran the one mile run in the Whaling Days race in Silverdale. Their goal was to both finish under 10 minutes....AND THEY DID IT. They ran together and had a lot of fun. Jason even made it in the top three of his age group for the males...check it out. Wish we could have gotten a pic of them....maybe next year, and maybe they will attempt the four mile?

Menu Plan Monday is back...

Monday: Spinach Fandango (requested by hubby) and Carrots
Tuesday: Sandwiches or something easy for Concert in Park night
Wednesday: Flank Steak (marinated in a little ketchup, oil, garlic and onion powder, honey, ginger, soy sauce), baked potato, boiled to death green beans
Thursday: Soy Sauce Chicken, Rice and Cheese Broccoli
Friday: Italian No-Meat Sauce (can of crushed tomatoes sauteed with garlic and oil and spiced) Spaghetti and Boboli
Saturday: Dinner at Family for Farewell to Caitlin going back to college
Sunday: Leftovers

Sweet Moments

Last night as I meandered out of bed and into Angel's room to rock her back to sleep...I experienced a very sweet and humbling moment. Angel was laying on my daily enlarging belly and had her head on my shoulders. All of a sudden, the baby started kicking like crazy. Angel kept squirming and repositioning herself on my lap. I just enjoyed these sweet moments of precious little lives. It was almost as if the two sisters were already either communicating to each other or striving for their own personal time with mom. I felt so honored and humbled to have two little ones so close to me and at that moment I completely forgot how tired I was...life is so precious and they stay little for such a short time I need to soak up all these sweet moments I can get.

Strawberry Shortcake...

I made this this past weekend...and it is too yummy not to share. It is an old recipe from my Mamasan...and tastes so good with fresh strawberries and in the summer. Click on picture to get recipe. Enjoy.

Here come the molars....

Poor Angel (and mom) have been suffering through this past week with the teething stage. She has her bottom central and lateral incisors, and top central incisors and one lateral one. According to this chart, her other top lateral incisor is slow in coming....although it is popping through right now as well. She is right on track with her first molars. Two of them on her right side have come through halfway and the left side are right below the gums.

Not much relief is had while these struggle to come through. She does alright during the day...likes crushed ice and Popsicles...but is a lot more clingy to mom's legs and we have nicknamed her mom's "little shadow". Her nights are the hardest as she awakes quite frequently and just wants to be held and rocked and reassured I believe that everything is alright. Luckily she still nurses so that provides some relief. The homeopathic teething tablets help as well, and sometimes some good old Tylenol at night. I keep telling myself that even through my exhaustion to hold onto these memories and enjoy these times I get to hold her close, rock her back to sleep, nurse her, and have her hang onto me all day long. I am sure that soon enough I will be wishing for these hard but precious days back.

Baby Hartsell is....

..a beautiful side profile...(my favorite shot because you can see the back, leg, arms...almost looks like the baby might have been sucking the thumb...beautiful little nose, head and ear!) ...a nice long leg....(no wonder I can feel all those kicks)

...cute little arms and hands and fingers....

...and beautiful little fingers and nose and eyes....(a front face shot with fingers resting on the belly)

Everything looked perfect....we are so happy!! Oh, and that's right...it's ANOTHER GIRL!!!

Lavender Festival...

Jason and I had a good anniversary. We went to one of our favorite places to eat, Whiskey Creek, and enjoyed a delicious dinner and listened to the live music. (Thanks Meme and Pepe for the good meal!!) We were going to go to Mt. Rainier but the weather wasn't great, so on Friday we went to the Lavender Festival in Sequim. I love this festival and it holds dear memories of our wedding as well....which was a lavender theme to it. The bouquets, corsages had lavender in them, the colors were lavender and silver, the centerpieces were lavender pots, the party favors included lavender sachets etc. Last year we went with my in-laws and my mom and I had way too much fun shopping...missed you this year. Here are some pics...Enjoy!

Our special day...FOUR years ago...

Concert in the Park...

Last night we went to a free and local Tuesday night Concert in the Park in Bremerton. The theme was Hollywood Tunes...it was lots of fun and a beautiful night. They had lots of entertainment for the kids too.

Farmers Market...

This morning we went to a local Farmers Market. It was a beautiful day and right by the water. Angelica loved seeing everything, dancing to the bluegrass band and eating shaved ice!!

Summer time herbs...

In the summer, I enjoy growing all my herbs, then harvesting them, drying them, grinding them up and storing them in jars to use all year round. Here goes round one of the summer....hopefully will get a couple more in this summer.

White pizza...

Thanks to my mom's recipe and cooking tips, I am starting to master the art of homemade white pizza....yummers!!

(Before)

(After)