Recipe: Tropical Soup

I love this cold soup. I usually make it for girly showers, brunches, etc. but Nathan and other manly men I know love it, too.

Blend for one minute:

1 large can undrained pineapple

1 c. cream of coconut

16 oz. sour cream

1 c. water

Chill overnight.

The next day, add:

2 c. bananas

2 chopped kiwi

1 c. shopped strawberries

1/2 c. slivered almonds

Yummy and so refreshing!

Doctor's Appointments and Surgeries

I'll start with the youngest:

Connor

9th month well-visit stats:

height: 27 1/2 inches (31%)

weight: 17 lbs. 3 oz. (9%)

Even though he's skinny, his weight is steady so the doctor is not concerned.

He had his hemoglobin checked and it was low. I invited him to join me in the Anemic Club and we high-fived.

And then I had the traditional conversation with the doctor:

Doctor: How is he doing?

Me: Great. So happy. Sleeping great.

Doctor: Ok. Let me check his ears.

Me: Cool. I'm sure he's perfect.

Doctor: He's got an ear infection.

Me: Awesome.

And that leads me to the great news......Monday he's getting tubes! Hooray!

And next we have:

Reagan

3 year well-visit stats:

height: 36 1/2 inches (37%)

weight: 29 lbs. (31%)

She thought getting her blood pressure checked was the coolest thing ever. She can draw a vertical line, jump on two feet, stand on one foot, say her first and last name, say her age, and follow multi-step directions.

And this was her conversation with the doctor:

Doctor: Are you brushing your teeth every day?

Reagan: Yes, I do it all by myself. All by myself. All by myself.

Me: But Daddy and I help.

Doctor: Are you eating lots of healthy fruits and vegetables?

Reagan: Yes, like pop-tarts and cookies and goldfish.

Me: She eats grapes and bananas and apple slices.

And lastly:

Me

I've had stomach pains for the past several months. I was sent for an ultrasound last week which revealed an enlarged gallbladder, gallstones, and kidney stones.

Last week I visited a urologist about my kidney stones. I have two large kidney stones that are too big to be passed, so the doctor explained that he will probably stick me in a tub of water, shock me (which will bruise me) to explode the kidney stones, then I should be able to pass them. I think all of that is a terrible idea but I'm going to do it. But not before having my gallbladder removed.

I went to a surgeon today. He pressed one spot on my abdomen which almost caused me to come off the table. "Yep", he said. "That's your gallbladder. That's what's causing your pain." So, this Friday that bad boy is coming out! I can't wait. It's a super simple procedure. Just 3 small incisions. It's outpatient surgery.

My favorite part of the appointment was when the surgeon said, "Wow. You're so thin I can easily feel your aorta." It was the weirdest compliment ever, but I grinned from ear to ear like a dork because a real-life doctor called me "thin".

I'm not nervous about the surgery itself, but I will be put to sleep and my body does not handle anesthesia well at all. If you think about it, please pray that my body handles it alright. Thanks!

Lately, I'm loving.....

1. This website: www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

2. This food: Yoplait Fiber One yogurt- Key Lime Pie...only 50 calories and it tastes like a genuine piece of key lime pie.

3. This person: My family doctor for very quickly being able to figure out why my stomach hurts all the time. It's my gallbladder. And I think it's coming out soon!

4. This name: Evie Jane....pray for this sweet baby that will be here in less than two weeks and for her parents, Heather and Kevin.

5. This verse: "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Ps. 118:24 I think I say this with my children close to 20 times a day. Such a powerful reminder to be joyful, thankful, and purposeful in each and every day.

The Party

I had the best time planning Reagan's Cinderella party. I was such a tomboy when I was a little girl (my mom could tell you some stories!!!) so I think I assumed I would have a daughter that would be the same as me. Wrong! She likes to pretend with babydolls and play dress-up and sing princess songs. I can't even try to relate to that but I'm learning to embrace her girliness and go with it. I ordered these invitations from Walgreens. I love this precious picture of Reagan sitting on her bed in her Cinderella dress.

The Princesses:

1. Haley (Reagan's cousin)

2. Holly (Reagan's cousin)

3. Reagan

4. Clara (Reagan's best friend)

5. Brantley (Connor's girlfriend)

Both of R's grandmothers came:

Granny (Nathan's mom)

Gammy (my mom)

And all THREE of R's great-grandmothers! Such a blessing that R has 3 healthy great-grandmothers. My other grandmother (my dad's mom) died when I was a senior in high school and would have loved seeing this little princess!

Left to right: Grandma (Nathan's grandmother)

MaMa (my grandmother)

Mom Mom (Nathan's grandmother)

Aunt April (Nathan's sister) and her daughter, Haley

Reagan and Haley are only a few months apart and love each other to pieces!

Aunt Beth (Nathan's other sister....April and Beth are twins) with her daughter, Holly

The Spread:

I had fun coming up with princess-y names for all the foods. There was Royal Chicken Salad, Princess Peanut Butter and Jelly, Palace Potion, Cinderella's Special Strawberries and Grapes, Magic Wands, Castle Crackers, Fabulous Orange Fluff, and Party Pimento Cheese

I framed several pictures of Reagan and used those to decorate the tables along with blue and white "diamonds", blue fabric, and flowers. And then, of course, we had Cinderella plates.

The little girls table was in the foyer. Each princess had a treat bag with stickers, a necklace, and lip gloss. I borrowed Jenn's chair covers and threw together this sweet table using scrapbook paper, plastic wands, and a big ole' Cinderella centerpiece.

I found a crown cookie cutter in Pigeon Forge a few weeks and used it to make the Princess Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.

The magic wands were super easy! I just took a bag of pretzel rods, rolled them in melted chocolate frosting, then rolled them in chocolate sprinkles. I let them sit in the fridge for about an hour, then dipped the tips in melted vanilla frosting, sprinkled the tips with clear sprinkles, then let them sit in the fridge for a couple of hours until the party started.

I don't bake. Don't know how to. Don't ever want to. I'm content with cooking. Baking is not even on my radar. So when my dear friend, Karen, offered to make this precious cake I immediately took her up on it! Reagan LOVED it!

It was a perfect little princess party. Just the right number of little princesses. Reagan was all smiles the entire morning. I am so thankful for such a sweet and loving princess.

I do.

When I get nervous, I get red blotchy patches on my neck and chest. 8 years ago today, I was covered in redness because I was about to say "I do" to my favorite person.

I loved our wedding day. It was beautiful, fun, and hilarious. This is what I will always remember about May 18, 2002:

- My brother sang. Twice. Once during the ceremony and again during the reception. He has an incredible voice and it was really special. Not just because he's my brother but because if you had heard him sing when he was about 12, you would realize just what a miracle happened in that 6 year span.

- During the ceremony, in front of 500 people, my pastor said, "Mike is the only man in the whole world for you." Nathan's name is Nathan. Nathan Ray Trevett. My pastor felt like a huge loser and he still apologizes to this day and I still do not accept his apology.

- Nathan and I wrote our own vows. Our pastor lost mine. So I told Nathan his own vows. That was weird but also really fun.

- Nathan and I walked into our reception to the song "2001".

- We stayed at our reception for a total of 45 minutes. We had better things to do.

- During our "better things to do", MY DAD CALLED. The first words out of his mouth were, "I am soooooo sorry." Apparently, we'd taken our keys with us and Dad needed them to take our car to the airport. Blah, blah, blah. The bottom line.....awkward. And hilarious.

It's been an incredible 8 years. Nathan is my best friend. 3 pregnancies and a million stretch marks later, he somehow loves me more today than he did on May 18, 2002. At least that's what he tells me. And that blows me away. Of course I love HIM more. But he's seen all my crazy. He's seen me with post-partum depression. He's seen me huge and pregnant and miserable. And he continues to tell me I'm beautiful. That's a real man. He encourages my passions, offers loads of wisdom, leads our family with strength, and loves our children whole-heartedly. I love his consistent faith. He never waivers.

I love you all the way, Nathan Trevett. Happy Anniversary.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweet Reagan!

Three years ago, I gave birth to this beautiful little girl. I had no clue how much I would absolutely love having a daughter. In many ways, she is the opposite of me, and in many ways, we are twins. Having Reagan Grace for a daughter is such a blessing. Happy Birthday to my sweet girl.

Here are some things you may or may not know about Reagan:

1. She loves to suck her thumb while rubbing the folds of fabric. She often says, "I wanna rub a fold."

2. She loves princesses. Cinderella is her favorite. She had a Cinderella birthday party yesterday. I'm posting those pictures tomorrow.

3. She reads a lot. Before naps. Before bed. To her dolls. To herself. To me. To Landon. To Connor. Her favorite book is Pinkalicious.

4. She changes clothes about ten times a day. Dresses are her clothes of choice. With pink shoes.

5. She didn't have hair until she turned 2. She still doesn't have a whole lot but it's growing more and more each day.

6. She has the most beautiful smile that can light up a room. She's always smiling.

7. She's petite.

8. She says this a lot at bedtime: "I can't sleep berry good."

9. She eats about once every 3 days. (See #7.)

10. She doesn't meet a stranger. She can talk to anyone about anything at anytime. Her personality is magnetic.

11. She loves to play "mommy".

12. She would drink a gallon of milk a day if I'd let her.

13. She wears crowns a lot.

14. She likes to shoot guns and play soccer but she likes to do it while wearing jewelry and crowns and bows.

15. Her favorite foods are pancakes, cheese quesadillas, yogurt, and ketchup.

16. Her favorite color used to just be pink. Then two weeks ago, she changed it to purple. And now she says her favorite colors are pink, purple, and white.

17. She has the most beautiful, big, blue eyes. They're gorgeous.

18. She is hilarious. She makes funny faces. She loves to tell knock-knock jokes.

19. She gets really, really giddy about everything....Christmas, trips, outings, friendships, parties. I have no clue who she gets that from. ;)

20. She loves her family and friends all the way. With her whole little self. She loves life.

Dear Reaganator, Reagie, Ray, Reagie-Spadagie, Sweet Girl,

First of all, sorry for all the terrible nick names. Secondly, having you as my daughter is such a sweet gift. You add so much laughter and joy to my life. I love having someone to get excited over little things and big things with. I love having someone to squint my eyes with and look at pictures of Disneyworld on the computer over and over again. I love the way you love others. You are one-of-a-kind. I love you!

Love,

Mommy

Just For Fun

I would love to build a house one day. Ok, so here are 10 things I think I would want. Most of these lessons I've learned from our current house:

1. I love having our master bedroom downstairs. That way if I sprain my ankle or have a c-section I don't have to walk up and down the stairs to get to bed. And when Nathan and I get all old and get put in wheelchairs, we won't have to install one of those mechanical things that take wheelchairs upstairs.

2. I will never, ever, ever, ever have black countertops ever again. They show every tiny little speckle of dirt.

3. I love the blue walls in our den. The color is called "Rain". It's perfect. I think I may always have a blue den for the rest of my life. I'll be one of those people on Oprah in 30 years that gets made fun of for still decorating like it's 2010. And then she'll surprise me with a den makeover and then I'll hate it and go back to my "Rain".

4. I love having carpet in the bedrooms. I hate having carpet in any other room. I love big rugs.

5. I want a library/living room space where I can put floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and display all of my books. I might even buy a ladder like they have at the Biltmore House. Not because the ceilings would be that tall but just because it would look neat.

6. I want an island where I can cook up a storm while the kids are talking to me and playing games or reading or writing. And we can all see each other and smile.

7. I would love a rock fireplace with a big, chunky wooden mantel.

8. I also want there to be some rock on the outside. Maybe on the bottom of the columns on the front porch.

9. Now that I'm a cooking machine, two ovens would be fun.

10. I think den furniture that's not stained with spit-up and other baby leftovers would be awesome. It would be less sweet and special than what we have now. But also less smelly. But I'm not going there until we're out of the baby spit-up/leftover stage.