Crockpot Rice Puddin'

During my pregnancy I discovered that I L-O-V-E rice pudding. I have looked for recipes several time and they just seem like too much work when I can just buy the yummy orange cozy shack container instead. However, today while looking for a yummy chicken and rice Crockpot recipe, a recipe for rice pudding popped up and it seemed to simple not to try. It turned out delicious! I cut the recipe in half and have easily 10 servings so I will post the amounts I used.

1/2 gal milk (I used 2%)
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup rice (it should have been 1/2 cup but I like more rice in mine)
1/8 tsp salt
1-2 tsp vanilla

Pour the milk, sugar, rice, and salt into the Crockpot. Stir to distribute ingredients. Turn on Crockpot to high and cook for 2 1/2 hrs stirring to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom. Around 2 1/2 hours the milk should be starting to boil around the edges, turn the heat to low and cook another 30 minutes. Add vanilla and stir, pour into room temp glass container with a lid and place in fridge to cool.  Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!

And it's off to the pool we go!

We took Ella Grace to the pool for the first time yesterday. We weren't really worried about her reaction to the water since she loves the bath and shower so much, but we were to see her reaction and obviously this would be the most submerged she's been up to this point.

After getting her all ready with her swim diaper, sunscreen, swimsuit, and sun hat we were off! The pool was so crazy crowded that I'm not sure we got a true response as to how she felt about being in that much water. She was more interested in watching all the crazy teenagers jumping in and out of the pool. She did however show some nervous behavior when we held her out away from our bodies. I think the buoyancy was a little much for her. Other than that, she seemed content and we had a good time.

This is what I am printing to hang on the wall. I am making 8x8 "posters" of her first and our favorite moments and framing them to hang together. Eventually I will transfer them to a scrapbook.

This is my favorite pic of the afternoon and I plan to print and frame it as well.

I can't wait to create more memories in the water with Ella Grace! Sean and I were both water babies growing up and it looks like she will be one too!

One year ago and Today

A year ago today I cried in the bathroom a I prayed asking God to let me meet the baby growing inside of me. I went to the bedroom and told Sean we were pregnant and prayed with him for the chance to love this little one in the flesh.

This morning I rolled on the floor with my beautiful 18 weeks old baby girl. Ella Grace has given new meaning to both our lives. Tonight we had dinner just the three of us and it was picture perfect and I loved every moment of it. When I'm done typing this, I'm off to bed with my hubby and Ella Grace is already tucked in her cradle.

Life is good. God is great.

Ella's 4.5 month Stats

16.10 pounds

26.5 inches long

16.9 inch head circumference

90th Percentile across the board

She's a big girl, but proportionate :)

Friday Follow & Happy Birthday to me!

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Today I have lived a quarter of a century. A year ago  I was dreading this birthday. I didn't feel as if I had accomplished something worthy of a quarter century celebration. I had checked off one of the big things on my life list, I was married, and while that is wonderful, it wasn't enough. Then, 1 week after my 24th birthday, I poas and got a BIG FAT POSITIVE. We were pregnant.This year, I celebrate my birthday as a mommy, and it feels right.

Last night I went out with two of my besties. We went on a mommie's night out WITH the children. 3 mommies, 3 strollers, 4 kiddos. We hit up Burlington looking for a bday outfit for me and I walked away with a pair of comfy play pants, seemingly momish but that makes me happy too. Then we went to Steak-n-Shake, for burgers, fries, and the most wonderful shakes. I gave myself the birthday present of locking my keys in the car and was very happy that I had made Sean put the extra set to my car on his key chain so he knew just where they were. I love my girls who weren't put out at all having to wait in the parking lot with kiddies who were getting beyond tired but instead laughed and chatted and made me not feel like such a duns by regaling me we stories of silly things they have done instead.

Today I am off to breakfast and a movie with my mommy and my daughter. We'll see how Ella Grace handles the Matinée. Haha.

Have a great day!

Thankful Thursaday- Quarter Century Edition

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
~ Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

You might have noticed that this is a special Thankful Thursay post. A quarter century post. Tomorrow I turn 25 so I though I would list 25 things I'm thankful for.

1. I am thankful for parents who raised me to see God in the world around me and to seek Him in all things.

2. I am thankful for life long girl friends. I love you Gracie &  Renee.

3. I am thankful for the love and laughter I share with my husband. I love you Sean.

4. I am thankful for my beautiful daughter Ella Grace. The best present I ever received. I loved you before you were even an embryo in my womb and I love you more and more each day.

5. I am thankful for a little brother who comes over to hold the baby when I need to take care of something and who I can still laugh with. You were my first friend and I will love you always bug.

6. I am thankful for music. Loud music to sing with the windows down, soft music to lull my daughter to sleep, and slow music to dance to in the rain.

7. I am thankful for creative outlets. Photograph, sewing, writing, baking. Ways I show who I am.

8. I am thankful for God's providing hand. I may not have things the way I want them, but he makes sure we are taken care of.

9. I am thankful for laughter in my marriage.

10. I am thankful for new friends.

11. I am thankful for baby smiles that make my whole life have new meaning.

12. I am thankful for Elmo. Song or tv he stops my babies crying and gives me a minute to go to the bathroom.

13. I am thankful for my grandparents who are here to love my my daughter and be a part of her life.

14. I am thankful for rice pudding. It's not helping my weight loss, but it does seem to help my sanity.

15. I am thankful for the hour that my daughter spends paying alone in the morning while I doze on the floor next to her.

16. I am thankful for my daughter, did I say that already? Oh well I'm doubly thankful for her.

17. I am thankful for in-laws who love me and help more than they should.

18. I am thankful that God has helped me to gain control over my anxiety without the daily use of medication.

19. I am thankful for friends who tell me I look good. I mean really, those are great friends.

20. I am thankful that my daughters father loves her and me and wants to be with us forever. I love you Sean.

21. I am thankful for Godly people who pray for my family. All of my family.

22. I am thankful that I haven't sat on the floor crying and overwhelmed with mommy-hood in 3 months.

23. I am thankful for the sun shining and the rain falling. I love them both, even more when they are at the same time.

24. I am thankful for baby laughs when I want to cry.

25. I am thankful that God has brought me through 25 years and is still molding me into who he wants me to be.

Mommy to the rescue! or not?

I read an article on PBS.com this morning about running to your children's rescue when they forget things like lunches, homework, and other items they might need while at school. It posed the question of when NOT helping sends the wrong message. The writer was a you forgot it you have to live with it kind of mommy. She wanted to instill responsibility for oneself in her children. But watching her daughters unwillingness to help out those around her made her wonder if she had gone too far.

I know that I called my parents plenty with "I forgot." And be it homework, shorts for soccer practice, or my lunch, they rarely said no. Did this harm me? There are times that I still forget things, but I do not expect others to break their backs to help me. I do try and help those around me and with compassion I hope. I can't wait for Ella Grace to call me and need me to help her. That is something I consider to be the roll of a mommy, or daddy.

I have a running joke with my dad. I call and ask for "daddy rescue" when I really need help, and in return, he racks up "life credits." Now, I am an adult, and married with a child of my own, but every now and then I still need daddy's help. But more frequently he is calling and cashing in those life credits. Now,  I don't know that I will ever be able to re-pay all of his help, but I don't think he really ever expected me too.

what do you think?


ARTICLE ON PBS

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...it's nearly 90 today but I am thankful for the sun!
I am thinking...of how much I need to do so we can move at the end of July.
I am thankful for...my father.
From the kitchen...spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic toast...mmmm.
I am wearing...yoga pants and a nursing tank.
I am creating...a family notebook, tye-dye onesies, and blankies for my pregnant girls.
I am going...to try and sleep very soon.
I am reading...a bunch of really great blogs, my new Women's Daily, and a vampire book.
I am hoping... for healing.
I am hearing... Ella Grace's swing.
Around the house... things are in relative order, but as always I still see a lot that need to be done.
One of my favorite things... lavender, the smell and the color.
A few plans for the rest of the week: babysitting, sewing, and MY BIRTHDAY!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...