Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Wardrobe Wednesday

So I can still see my feet, which I will enjoy as long as I can.  This pregnancy has been different than my other three.  Well, they have all been different but this time I'm hotter and heavier.  I usually only gain 20-25 lbs. during my pregnancies, which is on the lower side, but I have nearly already reached 25 lbs. and still have more than two months to go!  * sigh * I'm just trying to remind myself that this is all temporary and a healthy baby is the goal.  Today I have my glucose test.  Wish me luck!  At the birthing center instead of drinking that vile orange drink for the test I'm eating 28 Jelly Belly jelly beans 45 minutes before my appointment.  Why doesn't every lab do that?!  In these photos I'm 27 weeks.
Andrew has been so patient with me in taking these photos.  He deserves a big pat on the back.
scalloped collar top - Anthropologie
pleated skirt - thrifted
shoes - Old Navy, similar
bow earrings - Forever 21, similar
braided belt - H&M, similar

Monday, July 14, 2014

birthday boy!

Elliot turned seven today!  It's a really big deal over here.  A lot has happened since Andrew and I became parents.  We are so proud of our big boy.  We were going to have a party at the lake on Saturday before Andrew left for Seattle yesterday but we had to cancel because Elliot started throwing up and continued for two days straight.  Thankfully he was much better today so we could make all the rounds of free food.  Elliot is such an amazing little guy.  He has a great memory, he's a natural leader, always thinking of ways to make money and starting new businesses, he has such a huge imagination, and is a little bit of a perfectionist.  So much potential and drive.
Andrew and I like to say that personality-wise Elliot has the best of Andrew and the worst of me.  By that we mean he's stubborn like me and driven like Andrew.  Speaking of his Dad, he is so proud of Andrew and his English heritage.  We're so excited to go to Andrew's and Elliot's home country next week!  Since I don't do this every time I thought I'd share a glimpse at Elliot's life through a ton of photos.  I'm mindful that he will be baptized in a year and this is his last year of just being a boy, before the age of accountability.
This last photo was this first time we captured his smile, probably only a few days old.  It's very special to us.  We are so lucky to be Elliot's parents!

Friday, July 11, 2014

gluten free Strawberry and Coconut Scones

Recently Andrew has been trying out a gluten free diet.  Every once and a while he slips, sometimes on accident, but I have been trying to support him in this.  He gets really bad mouth sores when living in the states and we have tried special toothpaste and other things and eating gluten free seems to help.  Since Andrew couldn't eat the lemon blueberry bread I recently made I wanted to find a similar recipe that was gluten free.  Although this recipe wasn't my favorite it seemed to hit the spot for Andrew and he ate almost the whole thing without help.

gluten free Strawberry and Coconut Scones
1 egg
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup oatmeal flour (or blended oats)
2 Tbs. cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped strawberries
1/4 cup coconut
1 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbs. sugar for sprinkling

Grease 9 inch pie pan and preheat oven to 350.  Combine egg, coconut oil, and sugar.  Add oatmeal flour, cornstarch, vanilla, coconut, and baking powder and mix.  Toss strawberries in a little flour and gently mix into batter.  Poor into pie pan, sprinkle with sugar and bake for 35-40 minutes.  My scones were a little crumbly so you might want to add another egg to the recipe.  Enjoy this yummy gluten free breakfast!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Wardrobe Wednesday

This is my first summer pregnancy in Arizona and I'm feeling it.  Elliot was born in July but we lived in England so the weather was ideal.  Avery was April, Zara was February which was just perfect!  I'll be the first to admit that this pregnancy wasn't my idea.  The timing, that is.  I was going to wait until after this England trip to start talking about it with Andrew, but Heavenly Father had other plans.  As hard as this summer pregnancy is, September really is the perfect time to have this baby.  We'll be settled into the new school schedule with Elliot in 2nd grade, Avery doing half day Kindergarten and Zara at home with me.  When the baby comes we'll start a new chapter in our lives - family of 6.  And hopefully by next summer I'll get the hang of having four kids.  Four kids.  It still sounds daunting.  But it's what we really want and our hearts will grow even bigger than we can imagine with the coming of this second son.  I'm 26 weeks in these pictures.
double knotted top - Anthropologie
pencil skirt - H&M
leather sandals - Last Chance
geo necklace - Forever 21
bracelet - H&M
flower earrings - made by me
favorite lipstick - Revlon Kiss Me Coral
undershirt - Down East Basics

Monday, July 7, 2014

Sycamore Creek

How was your Independence Day weekend?  We really enjoyed having a three day weekend with Daddy.  On Friday morning we went swimming with all our family who are in town and got a little burned through the overcast sky.  Then that night we had a last minute family BBQ with whoever didn't have plans and wanted to come.  We put the kids to bed at normal time and just before Andrew and I went to sleep we watched the downtown Mesa fireworks from our backyard.  It was magical, and probably the high light of my day.  I felt a little bad the kids didn't see any fireworks but they were just so tired.  Maybe next year!
We haven't gone on a family vacation since last Spring when Andrew's work had their annual partners' meetings in CA.  It was a quick three day vacation that just flew by and seems forever ago now.  Even though we're going to England in just two short weeks I have had major wanderlust all year.  On Saturday we went with my Dad to Sycamore Creek, near Sunflower, and it helped satisfy my need to get out of town.
Even though we've been living in a drought and it's off season for creeks we were able to find a little water.  Elliot and Avery made little damns with rocks for the tadpoles.  We all threw rocks around.  We saw lizards, a road runner, beetles, a quail, and I even almost walked into a rattle snake!  Thankfully no one got hurt.
We all look forward to going back again in the fall when there will be more water.  Maybe next year we'll even camp at Sycamore Creek.  Saturday afternoon we went to Sunsplash using our Pogo pass.  Elliot was tall enough to go on a lot of the rides and that was his favorite, while Avery and Zara liked the little kid slide area, and Andrew and I preferred the lazy river.  On Sunday Andrew had less meetings so he could skype his family and last night we went to Elmina's baby blessing at Ammon's parent's house.  I guess I haven't posted about Elmina here yet but she is Ammon and Ruth's baby.  Yesterday she was one month and one day old.  Such a sweet little thing. 
 So yep!  We had a wonderful and memorable three day weekend!  Happy Monday!

Friday, July 4, 2014

lemon blueberry bread

Happy 4th today!  It's one of those funny holidays in our home where all around us everyone goes all out in celebrating but being married to an Englishman he tends to roll his eyes and remind us the Independence Day is the day they decided to get rid of us Americans.  Either way you look at it, it was meant to be.  Here's a little recipe that sort of goes with the holiday.  It's blueberry season!  I keep finding them on sale and when my kids don't snack on them first I love to make lemon blueberry bread.  It's so good for a snack, treat, or even breakfast.  It's really good egg-free if you need that option.

Lemon Blueberry Bread
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c butter softened
3/4 c sugar
1 egg (optional)
1/1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbs. lemon zest
1/2 c milk
1 1/2 c fresh or frozen blueberries (tossed in 1 Tbs. flour)
1 Tbs. sugar for sprinking

First combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside and in another bowl combine butter and sugar.  Add egg (if desired), vanilla. lemon zest, and milk (I used powdered milk).  Combine with flour mixture and them fold in blueberries.  Sprinkle the top with sugar.  Bake at 350 for 55 minutes.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Wardrobe Wednesday

Oooo, I really love this dress.  It's light and classy and really comfy.  The best thing is it's not maternity but I went up a size and it fits great.  It'll be the perfect post baby dress, although I suppose it's not very nursing friendly.  I suppose a dress can't be everything at once.  I'm 25 weeks along here.
dress - Forever 21, sold out but there's the same style in polka dot here
shirt - Target, super soft and comfy
shoes - H&M
bracelet - H&M
necklace - Forever 21