A baby sprinkle turned pouring rain!

Oh pregnancy, you magical body crushing miracle you.

I've finally hit my uncomfortable point.  I'm pretty proud I've made it so far!

Saturday I will be 34 weeks, I really can't believe how fast time has flown and I'm still trying to accept the fact that this is most likely the last time I get to experience the joys [and pains] of being pregnant.

I am almost ashamed to admit that I am one of those women that love pregnancy.  I never throw up, I don't get hemorrhoids or swollen feet.  I do what I want and keep going.  Maybe since after having my first baby you don't really get a choice!  I feel the most beautiful when I'm pregnant, like my body has purpose and those extra rolls of skin are just baby love and that's ok. ;)

One of my favorite parts of being pregnant is having a shower!  I know, you're not really supposed to have a shower after the first baby especially if you've had 3 and already have both sexes of children but darn it I love a good party!  I also am constantly moving so there is really nothing that has made it from child #1 to child #4 despite the fact that they're only 6 years apart. 

So this time for Miss Tulip Bea I thought it would be appropriate to have a "sprinkle" or as I've seen them called.  My Mom and sister came in from California to help celebrate and I just really wanted an excuse to celebrate this new life with all my new found friends here on the island.  

<--------------- Dark Chocolate/Strawberry Cupcakes made by my sister, Jordan! 

 I should have known that my Mom, friends, and family would spoil me beyond belief.  And Tulip Bea is seriously set!  We had a great time just being together, enjoying the weather and getting ready for our little girl's arrival.  Which after the birth of my friend Bree's baby last week I am seriously getting so excited for, ahh newborns. <3

[My "sprinkle" had the cutest pink/jungle theme!  Pink. Zebra. Cheetah. Adorable.]

I am continually blessed and amazed by everything that was given to us for Tulip.  I have such talented caring friends and got so many beautiful home made gifts I loved it!  A new bow holder for Tulip?  Check.  A handmade Christmas pillow dress? Check. Lots of bows? Check.  A personalized cloth diaper and wet bag?  That too.  Seriously awesome.  Presents even came from afar with my biff from California spoiling me like she always does with a Bath Pod, bags of Rockin Green marshmallow scented cloth diaper detergent, The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears and a Boba Wrap! 

[A cloth diaper cake made by my friend Dawn.  She made it with Oso Cozy prefolds & a Thirsties cover!  I am a lucky girl.]

I had so much fun and was so relaxed just enjoying the company, I know I keep saying it but I just feel so lucky to have friends that encouraged me to relax, to sit down, to eat all things I need reminded to do!  

Even the games were fun, but then again I love shower games in general.  I'm a competitive person so any chance to win prizes I'm down for.  This time I just had to observe but watching everyone play games and win prizes was a blast.  

I wonder if it's bad that we did a Who Knows Mommy Best? game and the question was "What has Nicole been craving this pregnancy?" and everyone answered coffee & Dr. Pepper. :/

Just don't tell my midwife!

And of course Noni [my Mom] spoils her grandchildren that are already born so she had to give Tulip some love too!  New cloth diapers, a diaper sprayer [Thank God!], and a Nosefrida she knit me a boobie hat and got me a Beco Gemini carrier.  I'm pretty much in baby heaven.  Now I just need the baby!

So no I'm not lucky, I'm blessed [yes!]

By so many people that I adore and can't wait to introduce Tulip too.  A successful baby "sprinkle" if I do say so myself!

Check out my friend's Facebook stores! 

https://www.facebook.com/ArianasAccessories

[For family date timelines, pillow dresses, home made bows & wipe cases and more!]

https://www.facebook.com/BanginBabyBritches

[For WAHM cloth diapers & wet bags!]

Support your work at home Mommies! <3

[My BIG girl having fun at her sister's shower!  Doing it Mother/Daughter was so fun. :)]

Tulip: A flower symbolizing forgiveness.

Bea: Blessed, she who brings happiness. 

What I learned from my 48 Hour Facebook Break.

So a few days ago, on Tuesday to be exact I noticed that I was kinda more.....angry than usual, well not than usual but my anger and impatience was definitely in high gear.  Anger for me is one of my go to emotions, it's my default and the easiest bad habit for me to slip back into when I'm stressed.  I kind of noticed that Facebook, on that day, wasn't making anything better.  I was irritated on it, it made me even more irritated with the kids when I got off.  All in all, all was not well.

So I decided to take a 2 day break to re-charge, snap myself out of it & see just how important it was in my life and if maybe it just wasn't doing me any good.  I won't lie, I'm not a FB addict, not by my definition anyways, perhaps by others.  But I do enjoy it, I have a few "crunchy" groups I'm a part of, I connect with almost all of my family who live at least a few thousand miles away, and it's been a great way for me to connect and find friends while back here in Hawaii.  

I would say if I'm addicted to anything it's taking pictures of anything & everything.  

But that's a different story! 

[Side note: Follow me on Instagram! nicolehopefully]

Lessons learned:

1.  I am an irritated, impatient person with or without Facebook.

I can be a less irritated, impatient person with God. 

2.  My house will not be any cleaner if I stay off Facebook.

I think the reasoning for this one is that regardless I will get stuff done, there is only so much cleaning I can do everyday and I don't feel guilty checking my FB knowing that I also get my Mama shit done! 

3. No matter how hard you try, if you have a Facebook people you don't care to know anything about and would really love to never be reminded of again may seep into your life via others.  

In that case you just might have to delete your FB or block those people when you're reminded how much you dislike them or how little you want to know about their lives.

4.  The less you post on Facebook the less you will have to hear people's opinions about what you're doing. 

5. No Facebook for me = more time for Pinterest, reading && blogging.

While those might not sound very productive trust me that any of the above 3 are more productive than Facebook.

And we all know a blog wouldn't be complete without a recipe.  Not my blog anyways.

I know people don't come hear to check out my awesome musings on life so I have to get them here somehow!

Chocolate Chip Scones

adapted from www.skinnytaste.com

[For the skinner, probably healthier version check out the site!]

These ones will definitely be made again and would be so easy to adapt.  

Everyone actually ate them and they were super easy.  Win win!

3/4 cup milk [I used 2%]

2 tbs. lemon juice
[The original recipe called for 3/4 cup buttermilk
which would work as well but I never have it on hand so I make it.]
1 tsp. vanilla
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbs. COLD butter cut into small cubes
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup chocolate chips
For Top:
1 egg white, lightly beaten with a little water
2 tbs. sugar

[1] Mix milk with lemon juice, put in freezer to keep cold. Let chill 5 minutes.
[2] In a medium bowl whisk together buttermilk mixture, egg, vanilla & sugar.
[3] In a food processor pulse flour, salt, baking powder & butter.  Then stir in chocolate chips by hand.
[4] Add wet mixture to dry and lightly mix until it just comes together.
[5] Pour mixture onto a lightly floured surface and knead 4 times or so, the less you knead it the lighter they will be!
[6] Form the dough into a circle and place onto a greased baking sheet.
[7] Cut circle into 8 triangles, or more depending how big you want your scones.
It should be about 3/4 an inch thick.
[8] Brush top of scone round with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar!
[9] Bake at 375 degrees F for 18-20 minutes.
They taste best warm!  Nom nom nom.