belly update

tee by Marta

• I survived my glucose test... and was well within the normal range. Yay!


• Baby C is active ALL. THE. TIME.


• Belly is measuring right on target!


• My weight, however, is slightly out of control. I have already gained 27 lbs. (almost a third of my normal body weight and more than the grand total gained during my last pregnancy); 9 lbs. in the last three weeks alone. With 16 weeks to go... yikes!


• I may or may not be typing this with one hand, with a large iced mocha with extra whip in the other hand. Seriously, I don't know where the extra weight is coming from!
  
  HAPPY FRIDAY!
  
  Sewing date tonight with Heather & Mel. Whoo-hoo!
  
  And, don't forget about Queen Bee tomorrow, San Diegans!

sunny sunday

{ice cream & all!}

fascinating tidbits

I have eaten three entire boxes of cereal over the past 72 hours... and counting.

Yesterday, after our good friend Jonas' funeral service we went out for margaritas & appetizers. There were eight of us. The bill was $778.00. I think it goes without saying who the DD was.

I'm obsessed with cleaning my house with tea tree oil (diluted 1 tsp : 1 cup warm water).

I let Chloe stay home from school today, even though I knew her "stomach ache" was 100% related to 3rd grade girlie drama. She played all day.

Last weekend Kevin was at a party with Kenny Chesney. For reals.

The thought of having my glucose test done next week makes me want to cry. Can't I just drink a Coke instead?

Gonna be in Santa Barbara this weekend? In honor of Earth day, my Sunglasses Cozies (in nature-inspired prints) will be gifted with purchase of men's sunglasses at Nordstrom. I also have lots more to add to my shop, but we all know how that usually goes.

Chayse is on the cover of Bay Area Parent magazine this month.

I can't remember the last time I blogged about Cookies on a Monday.

Camden wants to marry Jake from the Bachelor/Dancing with the Stars.

do not miss out!

My friend, Mique, is co-hosting a brand new handmade boutique in San Diego next weekend!
I am so bummed that I'll be arriving in SD just FOUR days later!
So I'll totally miss out.
But if you are in the area, you have NO EXCUSE not to visit the Queen Bee Market.
Shop.
Drool.
Say hi to my friends for me.
I'm not bitter at all.
For more info, head here.

the jetta.

Have you met Wendy? She is awesome. Hilarious... REAL... awesome.
And it's time for her annual Dirty Minivan Contest.
Ummm, have you seen my car?
Not quite a minivan (more on that in a sec), but it's safe to say I've let things go in the clean & organized department.

And here she is!
My trusty, '02 VW Jetta.
By trusty, I mean piece-of-crap-since-purchase.
That's right, friends, I roll with all three kids stuffed into this baby.
What will happen come August, you say? After the fourth kid is born?
I may or may not have googled 'children in the front seat laws', while waiting for these photos to upload. Darn Chloe and her petiteness!
So, yeah, it's time for a new car. Probably a minivan. Anyone have an extra one laying around?

Okay... not bad on the outside...

Passenger seat:

{purse [a whole separate issue], random mail, hand sanitizer, hot pink lip gloss [haven't worn make-up in months], orange crayon, and a half-eaten bag of TJ's peanut butter filled pretzels.}

Below the dash:

{umbrella, empty envelopes, cutting mat [?? for some reason, this is it's permanent home], and Chloe's lunchbox from 2 days ago.}

View from Chayse's door:

{crumpled school papers, Camden's jacket, "family organizer" book [HAHAHA!], books, squirrel ears, and Kevin's favorite Mexican blanket. who knows what lies beneath this pile.}

Behind the front passenger seat:

{more school papers, empty water bottle & chip bag, headband, Camden's 3-year check up info, empty bag from the fabric store, baby game that doesn't work, ruby slippers, one sandal, crayon, I think I see a cupcake wrapper, water bottle lid, tissue pack, and doll underwear.}

Trunk:

{another lunchbox [from WAY more than 2 days ago], another umbrella, more underwear, some random fliers, stroller, Kevin's jacket, kids' Easter artwork, a couple Beanie Babies, Superfoods book, ROOT beer bottle [calm down!] and a Cabbage Patch baby carrier.}

And just for fun, let's really zoom in on the good stuff.

{under Camden's car seat.}

NICE!

Well, there you have it! This is actually pretty good shape, too. I took a few armloads of stuff out a couple days ago, including a sippy cup that had to go immediately into the trash.

I swear this car was impeccable when Chloe was a baby!

Now, head on over to Tales from the Motherhood to check out the competition!
And as Wendy says, herself, "the dirtier your car is the more you love your kids." So there.

jonas

Truly one of the best guys we could have ever known.
Praying for peace for Kevin, as the devastating and very unexpected news sinks in.
The loss of such a good friend.

We love you, Jonas!

girl, you're huge.

I am definitely carrying differently this time around.
I've already gained the entire amount I gained with Camden.
Just really uncomfortable all the time (like... as if a bowling ball's about to fall out), and this boy likes to rock & roll!
Four more months to go, and I'm already Gloria the hippo.

Wizard of Oz Party

Follow the yellow brick road...

right on over to Oh My! Handmade Goodness

for my feature (finally) on Camden's party!

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

I love canning. Part of our Easter brunch included jars of my latest concoction for guests to take home. What says Spring more than strawberry-rhubarb?

Here are basic canning sterilization instructions.

For eight half-pint (or four pint) jars of this jam, you'll need:

4 cups of 1/2" diced rhubarb (about 4-5 stalks)
4 cups of 1/2" diced strawberries (about 1/4 flat)

6-7 cups of granulated sugar (to taste)

juice of 1/2 an orange

box of pectin

Add a bit of water to a large pot, just enough to cover the bottom. Stir in rhubarb and boil, stirring, until broken down (about ten minutes). Meanwhile, crush strawberries with a potato masher.

Add strawberries, orange juice, pectin, and one cup of the sugar to the mushy rhubarb. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Stir in remaining sugar, and bring back to a rolling boil. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly!

Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Ladle into sterilized jars, and process as directed in the link above (this recipe requires ten minutes in the boiling water).

YUM!

Easter Brunch