freedom

I quit a few of my jobs today.

For almost a year now, I've been babysitting to add a little cash flow.  At first it was great - the kiddos I watched were so entertaining and it was great for little e to have a playmate.  Just a couple hours each day and a few extra dollars to help pay our house off a bit faster.  The perfect set up.

But since October, I've been watching three different children.  Sometimes it was okay but sometimes I felt like I was on the edge of a breakdown.  I just wanted to have a bit of time for myself.  I'm sure my pregnancy, the winter, and little e's growing up all played a part in the change of how I felt.  It just wasn't something great anymore, but felt more like a burden - something that I sort of dreaded.

Last night I went to our RS activity and one of the speakers said, "Get rid of everything negative in your life."  Immediately I thought, oh my goodness, that's babysitting.  I'd been going back and forth for a while, but last night it was so clear.  I need to let that part of my life go, so I can be more emotionally, physically, and spiritually balanced.  I want to be a better mom and really focus on loving my e girl.  I want to give her all of me, not a distracted, exhausted, frustrated me.

So this morning I did it.  I let each of the parents know that this was my two weeks notice.  It was hard, because I love them all so much and I want to help them out, but I can already tell a difference.  I know my sweet girl will miss her friends, but maybe now I can make some friends :)  

It feels so good to know my life is my own again!  Looking forward to some extra special moments with my baby.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Jeffree had class on Valentine's day until 7:30 p.m., so I offered to babysit for a family in the ward.  If I can't get my romance on, I might as well let someone else, right?

The mom already had dinner ready for her boys when I got there, but she pointed out some leftovers in the fridge for me to eat.  Oh my heavens!  It was sooooooooooo good!  Hands down the best chicken wild rice soup I've ever had.  I borrowed the recipe, typed it up, and thought I'd share it with you. 

Chicken (or turkey) Wild Rice Soup

1 Med onion diced

5 celery stalks diced

½ cup flour

1 pkg Uncle Bens Long Grain Wild Rice

2 cups diced cooked chicken or turkey

½ tsp salt

2 carrots diced

½ cup butter or margarine

6 cups of broth (chicken or turkey)

2 cups heavy cream

1 tsp dried parsley flakes

¼ tsp pepper

In large pot, sauté onion, celery and carrots in butter until onion is transparent.  Reduce heat.  Blend in flour and cook until bubbly.  Gradually add broth, stirring constantly.  Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute.  Reduce heat, add wild rice (pre cooked), cream, meat, parsley, salt and pepper.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Yield: 10-12 servings.

Try it.  You just might love it.

it's a...

It was 8 months before we got pregnant with Ember that I told Jeffree one day, "We're having a girl first."  He asked why.  My response was, "I don't know why, I just know that's what we're having."  We picked out her name that same month.  Ember Belle.  We just knew.  Once I got pregnant, I was less certain.  What if I'd been wrong?  But the ultra sound confirmed what I had felt long ago.  It was a beautiful, perfect little baby girl.

I was pretty sure we'd have another girl.  I think I told Jeff that when little e was only a few months old.  Since then I've rarely thought anything different.  When we finally got pregnant, I second guessed my intuition, but I'd been right with little e, so why wouldn't I be right with this one?

Jeffree and I were talking one night and I asked him, if it was a boy, what would we name him?  And I LOVED the name he told me.  That was the first time I could actually imagine having a little boy.  But I still entertained the idea of having a little girl for our sweet e to play with and was hoping today's ultra sound would confirm that.

Boy was I wrong.

So I've thrown motherly intuition out the window.  We're having a little man.  Wowzers.  I won't even know what to do with a boy around the house.

We are pleased as punch, and Jeffree said I was glowing or beaming or something like that.  I'm pretty excited for him to get his little boy.  I know he loves his e girl, but he needs another man around the house.

disclaimer: i refuse to flaunt my child's man parts to the world.  the only one who cares is his daddy, since "it takes a man to make a man"

Here's to baby number two - I'm sure he'll shake things up quite a bit around here.  And we'll love it. 

Bring on the blue!

date night

I love a good date night idea, but have you noticed that everyone goes out to dinner or to a movie for their dates these days?  Jeffree and I just can't justify that expense all the time.  We have to come up with less expensive, more creative dates to "flame the fire." 

Jeffree likes to have a theme or a title for each date he plans.  Last week's date night?  Plane Chocolate. 

First, we made paper airplanes from online tutorials.  We each made a few models, then headed out for a little competition.  Let's just say that my paper airplane making skills have never been that impressive.  Neither have my paper airplane aviation skills.  Jeffree blew me out of the water.  And the air.

After that, we hit up the local Starbucks for some hot chocolate.  Jeffree got a gift card from one of his students, so we used that for a little chocolate-y warmth. 

It sounds a bit silly, I suppose, but it was just the break we needed and we had a lot of fun.  Love my creative, silly, frugal man!

2012

You've been good to us, 2012....

January – Lori runs her first half marathon

February – Jeffree starts teaching guitar lessons

March – Lori is called to be the ward Young Women President

April – Ember turns ONE!!!

May – Jeffree starts the Master’s of Education program at SUU

June – Jeffree runs the Ragnar - his first running event

July – We celebrate our third anniversary (at girl’s camp)

August – Ember reaches an all-time low in weight percentile: 0.24

September – Lori lands her first paid gig as a photographer

October – Ember goes to nursery… and hates it :)

November – We find out we are expecting BABY #2

December – We reflect on our blessings and the wonderful gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We hope your year has been as wonderful and wish you the best in the coming year.  

Happy New Year!

at our house

Cabin fever is hitting pretty hard at the Shirley home.  I've been sick with the flu and now a cold and terrible cough.  Little e bears up like a champion and has been so sweet.  Here's our stuck at home day 7 activity.  Enjoy :)

hearts

Little e wants to be just like her mom.  Sometimes that scares me a little, but most of the time it's pretty adorable.  I've had so many days lately where I just can't get over how much I love being her mom - playing with her, loving her, and watching her grow.  Love.