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. 

Life is good. People are too.

So we've been trying to adjust, yet again, to our new schedules.  School is starting up again, well kind of.....we do year round schooling but now it's REALLY time to focus.  Plus the school supplies are on sale at Target and a general feeling of school-iness abounds.  Andy has officially been working his new job for over a month now, and we've kind of gotten into the groove of things.  

But in general life is pretty good.  We get to spend time together as a family!  Something that was missing for us for almost 2 years.  The differences are astounding and if I ever questioned moving back to Hawaii I don't anymore.  The first time we lived in Hawaii I had a huge problem with being homesick, I missed the people I had known and I couldn't quite make any connections that felt real here.  This time around I am just so surprised and grateful at the awesome people God is putting into our lives.

I am still struggling with my trust issues, which I've mentioned before, I've been deeply hurt by people I have trusted to never betray me and while that hurt is still there I think God is trying to show me the goodness in people.  It's so easy to see the bad, the negative, the people that use you, the back stabbers, the women that act like life is still high school, and while I know they're still there I hope that maybe I've gotten better at not letting myself be used and praying that God surrounds me with people that make my life better and hopefully I do the same for them. 

Women that I have just met that encourage me instead of compete & compare.

Fellow mothers, breastfeeders, home schoolers.

Fellow Christians, Crunchy Mamas, wives.

All helping to build one another up, congratulate on jobs well done and children well raised.

Maybe it's something in me that's changing or I've just gotten lucky but I am truly so thankful for the women I have been so blessed to be friends with.  From my best friends, an ocean away in California.[ One who I got to see yesterday!] Old friends that send me an encouraging word on Facebook or messages to ask how I'm doing. To new friends that I am just meeting that have an honesty about parenting, the ups & downs but also the joys & rewards.  Those people I can laugh with, enjoy an iced coffee and just talk without feeling like I need to be impressive, that I can just be myself flaws and all without being taken advantage of.

[One of my best friends. <3  Although we are far in miles we have gone through so much together in the short time we have been friends.  She is genuine and such an encouragement to me when times are hard.  She is proof of God's goodness in people and I am forever thankful that she is a part of my life.]

It's just something I have been so thankful for that I can't explain.  As much as I try to fight it, I need people.  I need someone to go on clearance Target runs with.  I need someone to read 50 Shades of Gray with me and then make fun of it.  We we're not meant to be alone and I am so excited for the new relationships God is putting in my life, just to prove to me once again, that I don't know it all, people are not all bad, and sometimes it's ok to trust. <3

[Also many thanks to my dear friend FranQueen from the 6th grade!  She re-did my blog for me and got it looking all spiffy & Chevron-ed up.  I <3 it.]

And since I'm too lazy to type up a recipe I'll just pass on the goods that I've been given lately and tell you to check out www.coastal.com.  

No, I'm not one of those cool blogs where people pay you to write or anything, so there's no gimmick here or anything.  Cause if I'm not cooking, baking, or cleaning I'm looking for ways to save money!

But seriously.  I've gotten 2 FREE pairs of glasses from them & I love them both!

And by free, really the glasses and frames were free and all I paid for was $16 for S&H [to Hawaii!] and insurance on each pair.  Just a good deal people, I'm not gonna lie. 

If you've never ordered from them before just put in the code FIRSTPAIRFREE at checkout.

You have to pick from certain pairs, obviously, but there are tons of styles to pick from.  

I have a horribly bad prescription too, like I'm legally blind without my glasses, and I don't even pay for any of the thinner lenses and my glasses STILL look good.  Damn!

I also friended them on Facebook which is how I got a code for another free pair.

So yeah, I'm basically set for life.

Go enjoy people.  Enjoy life.  Enjoy free things.

I know I do.

[My newest pair!  Nerd glasses. 

 I had almost this exact same pair in high school.  They were not so cool back then.] 

God Bless America. Happy 4th of July!

Had an awesome low-key 4th of July yesterday celebrating with the kids, my Dad, brothers & sisters and some of our church family at their home in Maile. 

Despite all the differences I have with our government and how anti-authority I am, just a bad teenage habit that I just can't seem to shake, I do know how blessed my family & I are to live in this country.

We get good health care, for now anyways, through the state.  Participate in the Women's, Infants & Children program here and that's about it.  While I do appreciate everything this country does do for us I also take pride in the things we do for ourselves. 

All that being said I am a proud Navy brat of a man who served our country for more than 20 years.

I have lived in more houses than I can remember and greeted ships searching for my Dad's face. 

I am thankful for those that sacrifice their fathers, husbands, sons for our freedom.  

[My Patriotic fruit plate.]

I also love the chance to celebrate, enjoy the company of friends, & eat! 

The kids could barely stand still long enough to take a picture.  They just wanted to go swimming!

Stars && Stripes!

Left:  The view from our friend's back lanai of sunset.

Right:  My 4th of July belly!

27 weeks & 4 days.

We all decided we were too tired to try and fight the crowds to see the fireworks but on the way home we got lucky and got to watch the whole show from the comfy-ness of our van on the side of the H-1. 

Hope everyone had a happy & safe 4th of July!  

Red, White & Blue-Berry Muffins

adapted from www.joythebaker.com

7 tbs. unsalted butter

1/3 cup whole milk

1 large egg

1 egg yolk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups AP flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Topping:

3 tbs. cold butter, cut into small cubes

1/2 cup AP flour

1/4 cup sugar

[1] Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Melt and cook the butter shaking often.  Watch the butter as it begins to foam and smells nutty.  It will turn brown pretty quickly, once you see brown bits floating around and brown foam take it off the heat.

[2] Whisk milk, egg, egg yolk and vanilla until combined.  Once butter has cooled slowly add it to mixture while whisking.  Don't add it while it is too hot or it will cook your eggs!

[3] In a separate bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add milk & butter mixture and stir gently to combine.  Gently fold into blueberries.

[4] Divide batter into muffin cups, makes 12.

[5] To make topping you can pulse all ingredients in a food processor until it looks crumbly or use your fingers to mix until it looks like small peas of butter, but be quick!  You don't want the butter to melt.

[6] Sprinkle over the tops of the muffins.

[7] Bake for 28-30 minutes in a 375 degree F oven.

Yum!