3 Wonderful Wiggly Girls

Aunt Lavender celebrates her one month birthday

with her nieces Leighton (6 months) and Brianne (22 months).

Getting a picture of these three requires planning and extra hands!

Lavender

Flu season
The doctor warned
As he washed his hands

Wait a few more weeks
My friend (a nurse)
Advised

So I stay home
Keeping her safe
Avoiding germs

Reasons
That make sense
But not quite true

I had her all to myself
For nine months
Mine alone

Now I share her
With daddy
And family I love

But not
With the world
Not yet

She is too precious
And tender
Even sacred

Still connected
To my flesh
And my spirit

A part of me
I am not ready to share
Our souls intertwined

Sent to me
As a gift
A healing balm

Someday
Her gifts will bless the world
Today she blesses me

Bring the Family for a Great Show!

Millennial Scholar Academy’s 

Classical Acting Troupe presents

Admission is FREE

                                                                                                                                                

 Starring LDS youth from Vista, Escondido, Poway, and Penasquitos Stakes

             in FULL Elizabethan costume.   

                          

Friday March 16th at 7 pm – LDS Church at 1545 S. Melrose Dr. Vista, CA 92083

Saturday March 17th at 7 pm –LDS Church at 15750 Bernardo Heights Pkwy. San Diego, CA 92128

Wednesday March 21st at 6:30 pm – LDS Church at 1917 E. Washington Ave. Escondido, CA 92027

Friday March 23rd at 7 pm – LDS Church at 2255 Felicita Rd. Escondido, CA 92026

Saturday March 24th at 1 pm – LDS Church at 3260 Bear Valley Pkwy. Escondido, CA 92025

Almost 3 Weeks

There is so much I want to say and I don't know where to start.  Over the past few weeks I have felt many emotions, but one stands out above the rest.  I am filled with deep gratitude for:

Our sweet baby girl and the peaceful, healing spirit she brings to my heart and our home.  

Lavender with lavender

Her strong and healthy body 

The love of our extended family--not to mention the meals, visits, gifts and phone calls

Beautiful flowers and balloons (thanks J & L for these)

My missionary son who asks me to "please send more pictures of Lavender" even though we didn't name her Zadie as he suggested

Friends who gave me such a lovely baby shower with

beautiful gifts, yummy food, laughter and my favorite flavor of bundt cake

(white chocolate raspberry in case you were wondering)

And who are still patiently awaiting their thank you notes!

Warm weather so we could go out for a walk

A fabulous doctor and nurse who I could trust completely while in labor

Delicious meals brought by friends in our ward

The cards, gifts and wishes from friends near and far

Being able to walk, breathe, eat and sleep without pain.

In other words, not being pregnant any more!

On our way to the hospital at 5:30 AM. My expression says "Hurry up and take the  picture!"

Introducing

Lavender Jane
Born February 23, 2012
4:23 PM
6 lbs 3 oz
17 3/4 in

This is supposed to taste just like Panera Bread's

In an effort to reassure the world myself that I am still capable of cooking dinner, I am posting this recipe for the soup I made on Sunday.  This also guarantees that I will be able to find this recipe the next time I want to make it. 

Broccoli Cheese Soup - Serves 8

1 onion, diced
1/2 cup butter melted, plus 2 T for sauteing onions
1/2 cup flour
4 cups half and half or milk
4 cups chicken broth
1 pound broccoli, chopped
2 cups carrots, chopped or shredded
2 tsp salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp pepper (to taste)
4 cups grated cheddar cheese (could use less)
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Saute onion and 2T butter over med heat until translucent.  Set aside.

In another pan, whisk 1/2 c melted butter and flour for 3-4 min.  Slowly add half and half while whisking.  Continue whisking while adding chicken broth.  Simmer for 20 min.

Add broccoli, carrots and sauteed onions.  Cook over low heat until veggies are tender. (Maybe 20 min?)  Add salt and pepper.

Blend until it is as smooth as you like it.  Over low heat, add cheese until melted and well blended.  Stir in nutmeg. 

Crazy Things A Good Mom Does

I'm not sure if these prove that I'm crazy or that I'm a good mom.  Take your pick.

Evidence #1
So, we've come up with a name for the baby.  What do you think of Flipper?  Okay, not really.  But it should be her nickname.  She gets in the perfect "ready to be born" position for a day or two and then during the night she flips into a breech position.  We are trying several methods to convince her to keep her head down, but the funniest one is playing music down where her head it supposed to be.  It's not so bad when I'm in the car.  I just hit shuffle and put my phone on the seat when I sit down.  But at home my family thinks I am really weird.  Marianne is a good sport though and has been choosing music she thinks the baby will like.  This morning it was September by Earth, Wind and Fire.  It actually did wake her up and get her moving.  Now if we can just keep her moving in the right direction!

Evidence #2
Elder Aaron has been a missionary for four months now and I kind of feel like THIS.  So when Aaron mentioned a couple of Korean books that would be really helpful "if they're not too expensive," I set out to find them.  The first one was easy to find and inexpensive.  The second one I had to order from Seoul Selection.  And that isn't just a catchy name.  It is in Seoul, Korea.  It was reasonably priced so I placed my order.  As I was checking out, I realized that the shipping rate from Seoul was a bit more than I expected.  But hey, what mom doesn't want her missionary son to have the best in Korean grammar books?!  I figured it was kind of like contributing to the church missionary fund.  To make matters worse, I mistakenly thought that shipping rates to Toronto would be about the same as to New York.  Just take a look at the map.  Wrong.  Next time I have a package for my missionary, I might just fly there and give it to him in person!