I know that I've said it before, but I enjoy being pregnant very much- even when I'm running to the bathroom with morning sickness or aching with pain as I'm chasing my other little ones around and playing all day. It is an experience unlike any other. Even though we hadn't planned on becoming pregnant so soon after having Owen, we were thrilled to add another baby to our family. When I first became pregnant with Lana, I had been dealing with lots of anxiety. It was to the point where I was unable to sleep at night. Becoming pregnant made me so exhausted, and it forced me to sleep as soon as I laid my head on my pillow. I prayed to be released of my extreme anxiety, but I didn't know that the answer to my prayers would bring Lana. What a sweet sweet surprise. Lana's birth story begins a bit before her actual due date. I had my routine doctor appointment on Thursday, September 26th and measured at 2 and a half cm. A week later, on October 3rd, I measured 3 cm...

Last year, I spent an entire evening devoted to carving two pumpkins and making pumpkin seeds while Brent did some things for grad school. The pumpkin seeds turned out extremely bland and I wasn't sure if I'd end up trying again since it's such a tedious job. However, Brent gutted the pumpkins this year and I ended up trying again. It was a major success! :) Here's the recipe: You'll need 2 Cups Raw Pumpkin Seeds, 2 Tablespoons of Butter, 1/2 Cup Sugar (Divided), 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon (Divided). -Remove pulp and strings from seeds, then wash and dry the seeds. I soaked mine in a bowl of water and rinsed before laying them out to dry. -Preheat oven to 350 degrees. -Place butter in a bowl and melt, toss in seeds and stir until coated. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon over and stir. Spread seeds into single layer on baking sheet. -Bake for 5 minutes. -Remove seeds from oven and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar and t teaspoon cinnamon, mi...

Two posts in one day?? Crazy right? Well, Brent has gone to bed, Ella is now asleep for the night and I'm wide awake because I had a cup of coffee this evening that I shouldn't have indulged. Why not do another post? You know how I mentioned that I'd been so motivated and kept the apartment clean while Brent was in Pennsylvania on his business trip? Well, I seriously felt like superwoman those five days. I cleaned, I took care of Ella completely on my own, I cooked, I ate healthy, I went to the grocery store, I took Ella to the park, etc.  I also made several batches of haystacks to take to my MOPS gathering. I thought it was a good "fall-ish" dessert to share. Not to mention how much I LOVE how tasty they always turn out. It's a simple recipe and oh so yummy! You need 2-3 cans of Chow Mein Noodles (you can find these in the Chinese food section), 2 Packages of Nestle Butterscotch Morsels, Roasted Peanuts or Cashews (or you can opt out of the nuts if you...