Back again

Thank you for all of your comments! Here are a few answers:

• Yes, I've been sick. I was sick with Isaiah, more sick with Nate, and this one is worse than the last two. Does is keep getting worse with each pregnancy? I can't imagine. I feel like I'm slowly getting a handle on what works and what doesn't. The first two weeks of true sickness where bad. I pretty much laid on the couch. It was overwhelming to say the least. Jeremy has been great. He helps out so much. One day he bought me a Snickers bar because he knows how much I like them. Wouldn't you know that is about the only thing that I have repeatedly kept down? We just keep buying them. I keep reminding myself that once I'm through this sick stuff the snickers must stop! Strawberry ice cream has been a hit too. I've been trying to take vitamin B6, but so far I don't think I've kept enough down to make any difference. I do feel like I'm able to at least function now. Still sick about everyday, but I'm also still moving! Very thankful!
• I haven't been to a doctor yet, but I figure I'm probably around 9 weeks. We didn't want to tell people this early, but with how I was feeling we just decided to do it. Last week at our church's ladies meeting I told the other four ladies that were there (all close friends/family) and asked them to pray for me. the next day I had a better day. I know prayer helps! As far as a due date I'm looking at somewhere in December.
• I feel like I've just complained through this whole post. We are very excited about a third child! I feel so blessed to be pregnant (even with being a little sick) and to already have two children. I would not trade this sickness for anything. I pray almost daily for people that I know that aren't pregnant, but would like to be pregnant. So please know that I am just updating you on how I'm feeling and not complaining.
• Lastly, we had fun telling Isaiah about the baby. I'm sure he doesn't totally get it yet, but he seems to understand it a little. I think it helps that we've been talking about his Aunt Angela having a baby. He has said several times "It will either be a girl or a boy". (thankfully!) and he thinks it should be a girl so we can call her "she". He also told me that Puppy and Rufus were in his belly for awhile, but now they came out. I guess the fact that only girls can be pregnant didn't sink in yet. :)

Update

• First things first. I'm not dead! Just wanted to clear up that rumor. I don't even know where to start updating you on our lives. I guess I'll just start typing and see where I end up.
• Last weekend Jeremy and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. We left the boys with Jeremy's parents and spent two days together. We talked about going overnight somewhere, but decided to save the money for another time since we couldn't find what we were looking for. We did a lot of driving around and (of course) ended up in Gettysburg for awhile. A highlight was a pedicure Jeremy scheduled for me on Saturday. It was wonderful! (I love Warm Springs!) We also watched our wedding video. That was just crazy. So many emotions. What a great day, but it really is true that married life just keeps on getting better. It still requires a lot of work for sure, but I'd marry him all over again today.
• They boys are loving the warmer weather and spend as much time outside as they can. The picture at the top of this post is of them picking me flowers. Isaiah loves to bring me flowers and before dandelions were in bloom he gave me sticks, stones, and weeds. I love them all. Isaiah gets frustrated with Nathan because he likes to pick the flowers, but doesn't like to give them to me. He'd rather hold them in his chubby hands. Isaiah does not like this. Notice Nate's' wet butt on this picture. We have a tarp covering our sandbox to keep rain and cats out. Every time it rains there are little pools water on the tarp. I try to get most of it off before I allow them to play outside, but Nathan seems to be able to smell water. I love them playing outside, but the dirt is never ending!
• Isaiah grows up more everyday. One of his favorite activities is changing clothes. Lately he's been playing with a back pack a lot. He keeps his "treasures" in there. Including his favorite shorts and shirts. He's wearing his favorite "number" (they're the best) shirt in the picture above. The problem is that I don't always catch when he puts the clothes in the back pack so they miss getting into the laundry. :( Our rule: if we leave the house mommy picks out the clothes. If we're home Isaiah picks them out.
• Nate too is growing up and starting to do a lot of talking. "No" is a big favorite. :( He also gets into things much quicker than Isaiah used to. A couple days ago I heard him chuckle and I figured he was laughing at Isaiah about something. Then Isaiah yelled "Nathan is putting towels in the toilet!" If he finds the lid on the toilet up he gets excited and then starts throwing towels into the water. What a mess.
• Seems like there is more I should be saying. Several of you are waiting for emails from me. I'm very far behind on every area of my life right now, but maybe someday I'll catch up.
• I really want to have a bigger garden this year. Am I nuts?
• I'll try not to stay silent so long before posting again.
• Oh yeah, I'm pregnant. :)

Chicken

Thanks for all the chicken ideas! We had chicken for lunch today and it was great. I did it in the oven while we were at church. I used a lot of spices and also shoved an onion inside the chicken. I just had to add that because Jolinda suggested it and it made me laugh. :) I also added carrots and potatoes. Jeremy and I liked it, Nate did alright with it, but Isaiah didn't even want to try it. That might have something to do with a comment Jeremy made. Just as we sat down to lunch Jeremy said "Look Isaiah, a dead chicken!" Then he went on to poke and wiggle the chicken and make weird chicken noises. Yum.

I'm trying to line up some sort of a menu for the coming week. What do you do when you are too busy to prepare food? I'd say that's too busy! It's not actually that bad. I'm just having trouble coming up with good ideas.

The boys are supposed to be going to sleep right now. There is all kids of yelling, laughing and talking coming from their room. I decided I'd better investigate when Nathan's cries started to sound rather desperate. I found him wedged between the wall and his crib. I have no idea.

For those of you that like plain yogurt you should try this. Add one cup of boiling water to a small package of jello. Stir until dissolved then add one cup of plain yogurt in place of the cold water. It's pretty good. I like to add more than just one cup of yogurt.

The picture of Nathan at the top of this post really has nothing to do with anything. I just like it. I should do a post dedicated to the outfits you'd see if you walked into our house on any given day. Isaiah has a couple of shirts he likes and wears them as often as I'll let him, even both together. I didn't think boys would care what they wear, but I guess they do!

Rainy Day

It's raining outside. My house is clean. I pulled out the box of Duplos to entertain the boys this morning (rotating toys works!). I'm making brownies for the Reality 1 benefit concert at our church tomorrow night. If you're in the area and like good music you should check it out. You won't be disappointed. It runs from 7 - 10. We're currently listening to a Walt Disney Christmas cassette tape. Not my choice. Basically, it's a slow, rainy day and I'm OK with it. I've also kept our phone line busy for way too long uploading some pictures. Here they are.

I love Aldi's! They had strawberries the other day for $1.29 a box and last week they had fresh pineapple for $1.49. This week they had cabbage for $.79, but I didn't buy any.
One of Nate's favorite things to do with Daddy. Jeremy let's go and Nate jumps/falls into his arms

My warrior. He told me the canning jar rings on his arm were his armor. ? Yesterday he told us that David and Goliath should work together to get monsters. ? Several days ago out of the clear blue he asked me "Mommy, do monkeys walk on their feet or just their hands?" I still don't have an answer for him.

How would you cook a chicken?

I've cooked whole chickens before, but I often wonder if there is a better way to do it. I can't even tell you how I do it because I don't think it's ever the same. How would you cook a whole (small) chicken? Crock pot? Oven? Spices?

Saturday

Today was a good day. We had something every night this past week. We enjoyed each thing, but we do not like to be that busy. Also, Isaiah seemed to be in the mood to push every boundary and Nathan has not been sleeping well (can't figure that one out??!!) Anyway, last night Jeremy told me that I should go out this morning for awhile. I almost cried. It was not so much because Jeremy offered, he does great at keeping the boys if I need some time away. It was more just the realization that I was going to be alone, away from home. It's been awhile since I've left the house without at least one of them. I feel like I'm complaining about my kids. I don't mean to. I just needed a break. Badly.

I went to the mall first. I found some great deals! I love clearance stuff almost as much as I love tupperware. Actually, more. I stopped at a few other places then went to the library. I found a book on crocheting. I have been wanting to get back into it for months, but I don't remember how. Maybe this book will help.

On to other things. Jeremy and I will celebrate our 5th Anniversary next month. I'd like to give him something. Any suggestions?

I cannot find a nice black maternity dress that I know I had, but loaned to someone. No, I'm not pregnant, but my sister-in-law is and I'd like to see if she could use this dress. I think it's from Old Navy. Does anyone have it?

And just for fun, here is a picture of Nathan in "the glasses". I think my mom bought these for Isaiah almost 3 years ago and they are still in one piece!

Swagbucks

I feel like I should post something, but I can't think of anything exciting to say and I can't find any new pictures that would interest anyone.

So, I'm going to tell you about Swagbucks. Maybe most of you have heard of it and maybe even use it, but if you haven't you really should try it. Basically, you win points for searching for things on the Internet. It's random and you never know when you'll win a point or how many. I've won 1, 2 or 3 at different times. After you earn so many points you can cash them in for things. The best I've seen is 45 points gets you a $5 gift card for Amazon, but there are other things like Target and Starbucks gift cards for more points. If you're someone that searches the web even a little you really should try this. I always have a list of books I want to order from Amazon so this excites me. :) (We downloaded the toolbar and that works very well.)

That's all my exciting news for today. Maybe I'll be inspired tomorrow.