This IS NOT our baby...but isn't she cute?

I got a sweet new camera and needed a volunteer for my first mini photo shoot. 6-week-old Grace Haugland fit the bill. Her parents, Gabe and Carolyn, are in our Connection Group and are good friends. Such a great family...and very photogenic! Thanks to the Haugland family for the photos and fun!

We're not flooded.

For those of you who have been watching the national news coverage of the flooding in Iowa, I just wanted you to know that we haven't suffered any flood damage. There was a bit of flooding in Des Moines but it was far from us. Thankfully we live on top of a big hill and are not close to the river. So it seems we are safe no matter how high the water rises...

This has been a crazy weather month in Iowa. I thought we might have left the tornadoes, flash floods, and other weather issues in Texas...but I was wrong. There's plenty of severe weather here to keep things interesting.

For the last few days, though, we have had nothing but nice sunshine and great days. It still hasn't even hit the 88 degree mark yet this summer. We could certainly never say that about June in Texas!

33 weeks...We are ready to meet Baby in about 7 weeks. Any guesses as to boy or girl?

Phase 3: Completed Room for Baby

This week my mom is visiting from Texas and we love having her here. She has been so helpful around the house and worked with us to complete Baby's room. She was also the deliverer of our crib bedding and nursery goods. My grandmother is an amazing seamstress and she made all of Baby's bedding and curtains for us. We are so happy to have a homemade nursery we can keep forever. It's so special to know she made it for us and we will always be able to tell Baby (and future Babies) that Maw made their bedding especially for the Reynolds family.

The room still needs a few touches...like things on the walls. But I am really happy that the onesies are in the drawers and the crib is all ready. Now we are just waiting for Baby - we can't wait to see if it's a boy or girl. Such a fun surprise!

Check the nursery goods...
This is the quilt and bumper. Notice that we selected a material with dolls, doggies, balls, and crayons to go with our neutral theme.

Phase 2: Crib

This week we have begun (and completed) Phase 2 of Baby's room. Here's a picture of Jason working his crazy assembly skills on the crib.

Cool Frozen Treats.

Lately we have been really into utilizing our ice cream freezer. Who knows if it's pregnancy or the summer that has brought on the ice cream cravings, but either way we have been making tons of homemade ice cream! We received our ice cream maker as a wedding gift and it goes down as one of our favorites. I highly recommend the make and model we have - so easy to use and it makes YUMMY frozen treats. For this Cuisinart model, it works best if you keep the freezer barrel in the freezer. That way it's always ready for the task of cranking out the cream.

Here are a few of our favorite flavors...

Strawberry Sorbet (originally from Southern Living)
2 C. fresh strawberries
2 C. buttermilk
3/4 C. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Process strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. (about 1 minute). Add buttermilk, sugar, and vanilla to puree; stir well until blended. Cover and chill 1 hour.
2. Pour strawberry mixture into freezer container of a 1 1/2 quart electric ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. (times may vary, but mine takes about 30-35 minutes) Store the sorbet in an air-tight container in the freezer.

Chocolate Sorbet (from epicurious)
2 1/4 C. water
1 C. sugar
3/4 C. unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder
pinch of salt
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped (you can use about 1/2 of a 12 oz. bag of semi-sweet chips for this - just don't use cheap ones. Go for Hershey's, Toll House, or Ghirardelli)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large saucepan, whisk together 1 1/2 Cups of the water with the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Bring to a boil, whisking frequently. Let it boil, continuing to whisk, for 45 seconds.

Remove from the heat and stir in the semi-sweet chocolate until it's melted, then stir in the vanilla extract and the remaining 3/4 Cup of water. Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend for 15 seconds. Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the mixture has become too thick to pour into your machine, whisk it vigorously to thin it out.

This sorbet may seem a bit runny after it's done in the ice cream freezer. Just put it in the freezer (in an air-tight container) for about an hour, to set. It will generally have a soft consistency and be easy to scoop and serve. This chocolate sorbet is especially yummy with a spoonful of peanut butter on the side. Like a rich and delicious peanut butter cup!

Mint Oreo Ice Cream
1 1/4 C. milk, well chilled (You can use whole, 2%, or soy)
3/4 C. granulated sugar
1 1/2 C. heavy cream, well chilled (the original recipe calls for 2 Cups, but I think it still tastes really great with a little less cream)
1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
3/4 coarsely crushed Oreos

In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine the milk and sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes on low speed. Stir in the heavy cream and peppermint extract. Turn machine on, pour mixture into freezer bowl through ingredient spout and let mix until thickened, about 25-30 minutes. Add the Oreos during the last 5 minutes of mixing. Store in an air-tight container in the freezer.

It's here...finally! Chipotle has arrived in Des Moines. I know for you Texans this is a ho-hum event considering Chip is on every corner, but this is a great addition to life in Iowa. Today was the grand opening and the best part? Free food - the entire menu. It's hard to beat free food... especially at the end of the month when stretching the grocery budget becomes a task of creativity. For those of y'all in Des Moines, check it out. It's in Valley West Mall and the food's free till 7:00 p.m. today!

Today I painted my own toenails. This is quite a feat at almost 31 weeks pregnant! But, pretty toes are a must...no matter how big my belly is! I'm also in the middle of a self-imposed 2 hour rest period this afternoon. I'm having to force myself to sit, rest, and prop up my feet for a couple of hours in the morning and in the afternoon. Otherwise I am afraid my feet might pop! In my head, I know it's impossible. But when they swell to twice their size, my mind starts to wonder just how exactly one would deal with exploding feet...At this point, I am willing to entertain any wives' tales or other tactics for reducing swelling. If any of y'all have ideas, let me know!

This is one of the Bridges of Madison County. We can't wait to explore all the covered bridges in this nearby county...such a hidden treasure in the middle of Iowa!

Warning: This is a rant

For those readers who enjoy my normally positive entries, I'm warning you that this one isn't as fuzzy. If you want to quit reading now, you won't hurt my feelings. Because this entry definitely falls into the rant category...

So, tonight I was watching the TV show Inside Edition simply because it comes on after the local news. One of the headline stories led to this rant. The title of the segment was "Living in an SUV" and was a story about a lady named Barbara - a "victim" of the mortgage crisis. Barbara Harvey is a woman who is living in her SUV in Santa Barbara, California because she was forced from the 3-bedroom home she lived in. She could no longer afford the $2,500 a month mortgage in the beachside community. In a strange twist of irony, here's what the segment said about her former job:

"Before she was forced to live in her car, Harvey was a notary, verifying home loans. However, work dried up because of the mortgage crisis. Now she earns just $8 an hour at a senior center and can't afford rent in the beachside resort community."

Now, it seems, Barbara can only be described as a "victim" of the crisis.

Here are my issues with this story:
1. Barbara is living in an S - U - V. I wonder if she ever considered she should perhaps give up her new SUV (sure looked new to me) and buy a used Honda in order to save the money she might have needed to make her mortgage payments.

2. Do you know what the median home price is in Santa Barbara, California? According to Money Magazine, it is $979,500. Compare this to $150,000 in Des Moines or $136,000 in Fort Worth. Or even $550,000 in Los Angeles. I wonder if Barbara ever considered that she could maybe no longer afford Santa Barbara? Yes, I know it stinks to think about the fact that you might have to move in order to afford to be a homeowner. Especially if it's the only place you've ever lived...and, let's be honest, Santa Barbara is a great place to live. But, it seems like if I could no longer afford to live somewhere and/or was unwilling to change my life style to something I could afford, I would move. Barbara, if you can't afford rent in the beachside community you prefer to live in...it's time to seek out another community where you can afford the rent.

3. At the end of the segment, there is mention that Barbara is now on the waiting list for government housing. I wonder if government housing in Santa Barbara is better than owning a home you can afford in some other community. I guess it beats the $2,500 house payment!

The media is very good at labeling these people as victims. This makes me so frustrated! Call them "un-wise users of money" or "perhaps living beyond their means" or "people who didn't logically think through how they could make their mortgage payments for the long haul"...but please, don't call them VICTIMS! Perhaps they are just people who wanted more than they could afford and weren't willing to make the sacrifices it might require to pull themselves out of debt once they discovered they were in over their heads.

I often naturally think of ways these people could have avoided their situations before they got so desperate...My ideas?
- Downsize your car(s)
- Eat at home instead of eating out
- Ride a bike instead of drive
- Stop spending your free time at the mall - you don't need any more stuff
- Give up your gym membership and walk around the neighborhood instead
- Give up nights at the movie theater
- Maybe get a part time job
- (Gasp! - I know this is controversial) Maybe even move to a smaller, more affordable home

In the political arena, the House recently passed a massive homeowner rescue plan to provide cheaper, government-backed mortgages to a half million debt-ridden borrowers. President Bush has vowed to veto it - Kudos to him!! Here's the basis for his opposition to a taxpayer-supported bailout quoted from an article on foxnews.com ...

"Republicans argued the package reward lenders and irresponsible borrowers at the expense of homeowners and renters who made more prudent choices and are straining to cover their costs in a punishing economic climate.

"The vast majority of Americans who find themselves struggling with mortgage payments, struggling with high gas prices, struggling with high food prices are now going to assume responsibility for ill-advised financial decisions and misjudgments of other people," said Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala." (read the full article here)

You're probably picking up on my political bias here, but I do NOT think the government has a role in bailing out people who did not make wise decisions about sub-prime mortgages. That would do nothing to help them learn the serious consequences of financial irresponsibility. Besides, why should people who are financially responsible Americans be left to deal with the mess made by irresponsible lenders and unwise investors - many of whom where blinded by their own greed and the gleaming opportunity to live beyond their means?

I realize this is a difficult time financially in our country. Times are tough. But, honestly, I don't have much sympathy for the type of victim featured on Inside Edition tonight.

There are plenty of other victims in the world I'd rather see news stories on. Like people who just lost their home because of a massive earthquake or cyclone. They would probably be really excited to join Barbara in her SUV home...in Santa Barbara.

Our First Iowa State Park.

On Saturday we enjoyed a day outside at Ledges State Park north of Des Moines. Our friends the Ramseys (native Iowans) served as our tour guides for the day. We loved the chance to picnic, throw the frisbee, and hike on the trails. We were so thrilled to be outside in perfect weather (70 degrees) in the middle of May. In Texas, it's already 95 degrees...definitely not hiking weather for pregnant ladies! So far, Spring in Iowa has proved to be quite pleasant. It may have taken a while to get here, but it is welcome to stay!
Our native tour guides, the Ramseys.

Don't be jealous of my super-cool hiking outfit.

Chicago

Jason and I had a great opportunity to spend a few days in the Windy City this week. We had a few days off work, good weather, and an itch to go somewhere before Baby Belly gets too big to ride in a car for 5 hours. So, we seized the chance to take a short trip! Here are a few pics...
Lake Michigan looked a lot better than the last time we saw it...it wasn't frozen. =) A very nice day to enjoy Lincoln Park and a walk along the water.

I know this doesn't look particularly appetizing, but my point to make is that this half of a Chicago style pizza in our doggy bag weighed almost 2 lbs! We seriously weighed it on our hotel room scale. Guess that means that the entire small pizza weighed 4 lbs. Yikes. It sure was yummy though.
Oh how we love city streets!

I wish we would have taken pictures of our evening at the Sheckler's house. I guess when you are busy enjoying friends you forget to document the time with photos. Nonetheless, we enjoyed Keri, Kevin, Sofia, and Selah. Thanks for welcoming us to Chicago!

Our very low-tech Baby Counter.

Baby's Room: Phase 1

My dad has completed the first phase of Baby's room - the all-important paint job! He came all the way from Texas to help us out with the painting. And it looks fabulous! We'll keep you posted on future phases... For now, we have a beautifully painted room and tons of crib pieces on the floor. Bring on Phase 2: Crib!

Tulip Time.
(This post is dedicated to Sheryl, my friend from Pella, who has always been proud of her hometown. She "introduced" it to me when we were roommates in Istanbul in 2000.)

Last week Jason and I ventured out to Pella, Iowa for Tulip Time. Pella is a small Dutch community about 45 minutes away from Des Moines. They are famous for their tulips in the Spring - the whole town was covered in the lovely spring flowers. We enjoyed walking all over town and the dutch fair food - potato ribbons (thinly sliced fried potatoes - yum!), poffertjes (tiny pancakes served with strawberries and whipped cream), and dutch letters (the signature Iowa cookie). Pella is a great little town and we enjoyed the chance to celebrate Spring...Here are a couple of pictures of the tulips.

I've learned my (painful) lesson.

You know how on the back of a box of Q-tips it clearly says "do not insert Q-tips into the ear canal"? Well, for as long as I can remember I have been inserting those little cotton sticks into my ear to get them clean. I simply cannot stand the thought of having excess ear wax in my ears...

However, I think I have learned my lesson and decided that perhaps I should follow the advice of the packaging (and my husband, for that matter) and NOT insert them into my ear. This week I had the most painful ear canal infection. And you know what the doctor said when I went to see him? "Infections this severe are caused by inserting things into the ear canal...like Q-tips." So after several nights of lost sleep - because it was on the left side and pregnant ladies have to sleep on the left side - and countless ear drops to relieve the pain, I have decided that I shouldn't stick Q-tips in my ear. No matter what. In fact, I think I have even subscribed to my husband's advice that because God made ear wax to be in our ears, it's probably helpful. So hopefully my little cotton-tipped lesson will benefit my readers - especially ones who are prone to insert things into their ears.

==

On a side note, I have a hilarious story about my 8-year-old nephew Mitchell. A couple of weeks ago, he failed his hearing test at school. When the school nurse examined his ears, she told my sister that she could only see red in there. She thought it looked swollen and he should probably be taken to the doctor to check it out. Since it was my brother-in-law, Dave's, turn for the doctor visit (when you have 4 children, mom & dad have to take turns =), he and Mitchell went to visit the pediatrician.

Once the doctor looked in Mitchell's ears, he immediately asked Mitchell if he had recently put anything in his ears. He promptly answered, "no". When the pediatrician responded, "well, it looks like something may be stuck in there and I will have to get it out. I'll be right back so I can take a closer look"...and Mitchell started to look a bit pale. As soon as the doctor left the room, he turned to Dave and said, "oh, Dad...did I tell you about the little boy at school who likes to stick things in people's ears when they aren't looking??? He's a really bad boy. He is always putting things in other people's ears." Dave asked him what kinds of things this other little boy puts in people's ears. Mitchell said he wasn't sure...all kinds of things though...Hmm... That sounds very fishy, doesn't it?

Long story short, when the doctor returned, he removed pencil top erasers (the small red ones that come standard on pencils) from BOTH of Mitchell's ears. Once the doctor asked him about the erasers, he stuck firmly to his story about the bad kid at school who puts things in people's ears when they aren't looking. He must have felt strongly that the doctor would buy his story - and fear the second grader who had the strength to stealthily put things in other kids' ears. The doctor gently scolded Mitchell and made sure he understood that he shouldn't let ANYONE put anything in his ears - EVER. And just in case he ever got the idea to put something in his own ear, well, he shouldn't do that either....

Jason's Birthday.

Yesterday we celebrated Jason's birthday and since we had Connection Group last night, it was a ready-made party! We always enjoy Tuesday nights with our friends from Cornerstone. And it's even better when there's cake!
This is my humble attempt at making a homemade cake look like a store-decorated one.
Gabe, Carolyn, & Melissa
Jason and Todd being the "old guys" in the group.
Jason's really 34, but I thought 4 candles was enough.

Jason commented that one of the many perks of having a wife is having someone to make a big deal out of your birthday. I enjoyed every minute of making a big deal out of him yesterday!

My husband has launched a new website I thought many readers might be interested in. Smart Parents...healthy kids! is a website Jason has created for parents who are interested in learning more about taking care of their children's health at home. He offers lots of education for parents that, quite honestly, your pediatrician knows but probably doesn't take the time to explain in the office. Various topics include how to treat fever, cough, sore throat, ear aches and more. He works as a pediatrician full time in the emergency room at a large hospital and has created Smart Parents...healthy kids! to equip parents and help them to keep their kids OUT of the emergency room and avoid unnecessary doctor's visits. Hopefully many of you will find it helpful.

Sign up as a subscriber to Jason's newsletter on various kids' health topics. You can easily sign up on the website and we promise not to spam you! So, be sure to sign up for the newsletter and be well on your way to smart parenthood...and healthy kids.

Let us know what you think about the website - we'd love feedback!

This no longer looks like a Baby Bump! It's definitely a Baby Belly! We are at 25 weeks now...

My Least Favorite TV Show

I don't watch a lot of TV but occasionally I find myself watching it while Jason is at work. I have decided that the show I love to hate is Jon & Kate plus 8 on TLC. Basically it's about a couple (Jon & Kate) who used fertility treatments to get pregnant twice and ended up with eight kids. They have a set of twins and sextuplets and live in Pennsylvania. They are also the stars of their very own reality show.

I have decided that Kate is really the most annoying part of the show. She is the perfect example of a nagging wife, an overprotective mom, and a generally unhappy person. She is always complaining and whining about something. And her poor husband Jon seems to be the constant target of her jabs - at his weight, his parenting abilities...even his intelligence. He is literally pummeled in every episode by his quarrelsome wife.

Just in case Kate ever happens upon my blog, or if I ever need an occasional reminder that these are not desirable wifely qualities, I have made a list of tips for Kate (and me, and any other wives who take note)...

1. A little affirmation goes a long way. Husbands love to hear that they have done a great job at something - and they always do a great job at something. And most of the time, they do a great job at lots of things.

2. Just because he doesn't do it your way doesn't mean it's not right. Swallow your "my way is the only right way perspective" and allow him to do it - his way. And then be grateful! After all, he probably helped with something you otherwise would have done.

3. Dads are not Moms, but that doesn't mean they are idiots. As long as he's not endangering their health by feeding them poisonous food, he's probably doing a swell job. Relax and let him do it. Maybe seize the opportunity to take a nap while he's taking over as Dad for a while...

4. If you are going to comment about his weight, at least do it in a way that is loving and helpful. Sarcasm is not the way to communicate to someone that you love that you are concerned about their weight. I figure most women should know this. (After all, don't we grow up obsessing about our bodies?) However, Kate has given me enough bad examples that it seems some women don't know this...unfortunately it seems like it only degrades and embarrasses the husband who receives this kind of criticism.

5. Always take his side in front of others. I realize this must be incredibly difficult when you have cameras in your house 24/7, Kate. But cameras or no, (and most of us don't have any...) there is no reason you can't take his side in public. If you disagree with him or have some criticism for him - deal with it in private. Do it with love. And for goodness sake, there is no need to scream. Ever.

I could go on and on with this list but I'd have to keep the TV on and watch the behavior of this couple to get more specific examples. And frankly, I don't want to. It is such a poor example of how a marriage and family should work that I just can't watch anymore...

*DISCLAIMER: Before you start thinking that I am just plain mean, hear me say loudly and clearly that I am NOT PERFECT....I just don't have a camera in my house all the time. And, granted, I don't have eight kids. So, Kate, I'm not attacking you - just the behavior I see on the show. To put a more positive spin on things, let's see it as my desire to learn from the too-many-to-count bad examples on the show. Thanks, TLC. You've given me as much learning as I can take...

Tagged.

Thanks to Callie, I can no longer avoid taggage. Here you go!

4 Jobs I have had in my life:

1. Waitress
2. Lifeguard
3. College Professor
4. Event Planner

4 Movies I've Watched More Than Once

1. Steel Magnolias
2. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (This was before Sarah Jessica was Carrie...)
3. Rad (a super lame bike movie my brother and I loved when we were little)
4. Elf


4 Places I've Lived:

1. Fort Worth, TX
2. Riverside, CA
3. Istanbul, Turkey
4. Des Moines, IA

4 TV Shows I Watch/Watched

1. The Office
2. The Office
3. The Office
4. The Office

4 Places I have Been:

1. Italy
2. India
3. Morocco
4. Greece

4 People who email me regularly

1. My husband
2. My mom
3. Jennifer
4. Facebook

4 of my favorite foods

1. French Fries...especially yummy during pregnancy.
2. Tomatoes
3. Mexican
4. Cheesecake

4 Places I Would Like to Visit

1. South America
2. Canada
3. Paris
4. New Zealand

Things I am Looking Forward to in the Coming Year

1. The birth of our baby.
2. Warm weather in Des Moines
3. Visiting Family
4. Family & Friends coming to visit

Friends I'm Tagging

1. Rebecca (you gotta do it now, Bec, both Cals and I tagged you!)
2. Keri
3. Kimmy Sun

Here's a picture of our Easter celebration at home...

Happy Easter!
Here's a picture of the cute Easter cupcakes I made this week - they were yummy but most all of them ended up going over to the hospital with Jason. I actually love that people know Dr. Reynolds' wife as the one who loves to bake! I have always loved the kitchen but it's especially fun when I have a place to send all of my homemade treats.

Jason and I will be at home for Easter. We are really excited to celebrate resurrection Sunday in our new city, in our new home, with our new little family. We have much to be thankful for and will enjoy the celebration of new life that Easter brings.

Happy Easter weekend to all!

To my mom on her 60th...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my mom turned 60 last week while we were in NY. I thought it appropriate to take a minute to recognize this amazing woman that brought me into the world...Even now as I experience the joys of pregnancy and look forward to the gift of motherhood, I have so much gratitude for my mom.

When my mom finished high school in our tiny hometown of Albany, Texas she set out for her own adventure. I can understand her desire to get out and see the world, after all, because I felt the same way. While I loved small town Texas, I was itching to do something new. Anyways, Mom went to a small junior college in Cisco - simply because she could join the drill team there and get a full scholarship. After Cisco, she and her girlfriends set out for the ultimate "coming of age" experience, renting an apartment in downtown Dallas in the 1960's. She worked downtown, walked to work every day and loved city life.

She and my dad married and set out for a new adventure together living in Germany for 3 years. She gave birth to her first child, my sister Melissa, in Germany and lived without email, digital pictures, and cell phone calls to America (beyond what I can fathom). She often comments that her experience in Germany was something she would NEVER take back - even though at the time it seemed a little crazy to move halfway around the world as a newlywed.

After my parents moved back to America, my brother and I came along. My parents divorced when I was in the fourth grade, but for as long as I can remember, I never heard a negative word from either one of them about the other. I am grateful they allowed us to grow up and learn to see them and love each of them as they are.

My mom always worked full time and provided what we needed - without us ever knowing that we were often in need. She leaned heavily on her faith through losing both of her parents before she turned 50. Within the same period of 4 years, she lost her dad to cancer, her mom to heart complications, and her second husband a sudden heart attack. He was only 48.

When I felt called to go overseas, she was supportive and never once questioned if I was doing the right thing. She came to visit me in Turkey and California and has vowed that no matter where I live, she'll come.

In the last 10 years, she's welcomed four grandchildren into her life and been transformed into a very cool Mimi. She's also survived breast cancer, a midnight car wreck with four cows that totaled her car, a broken ankle and reconstructive surgery, and numerous West Texas highway run-ins with deer. She is a woman of faith, always relying on the Lord to see her through the difficult times.

And, in the last year, she graciously survived being mother of the bride AND mother of the groom for me and my brother.

The quality that I love most about my mom, though, is her sense of humor. She is one of the funniest people I know and has always, always seen things in life with humor. I hope I can learn from her motherly sense of humor and the ease with which she can make us laugh.

For so many pivotal times in my life she has been a counselor, a listener, a comedian, and most of all, a mom.

I truly hope I can be half the mom she is...

I love you, Mom!

p.s. She's beautiful too, isn't she??

Fav NY Pix

New York

New York City is one of my absolute favorite cities. Jason and I had the privilege of going to NYC last week with my mom for her 60th birthday. We had so much fun celebrating in the Big Apple! We ate (a lot), went to the theater, and enjoyed hanging out in the City. We saw three fabulous shows (Thanks to the Half Price ticket booth): Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - starring James Earl Jones & Phylicia Rashad, Mary Poppins, and Legally Blonde. All of them were great shows but my favorite was Legally Blonde. If you are planning a trip to Broadway anytime soon, I highly recommend it. We laughed hysterically!

This was not my mom's first trip to NYC, but it was Jason's first time. If you know me at all, you know that I am the natural trip planner/coordinator in most any group, so I was happy to plan our itineraries for each day. Most of all, I was really thankful that my mom and Jason were willing to put up with my "tour of NYC via the best food joints". Oh, the perks of having a pregnant travel guide. =) My favorites? The Buttercup Bake Shop - cupcake heaven! And, Good Enough To Eat - a fabulous little place in the Upper West Side serving yummy comfort food...macaroni and cheese to dream about.

My mom is such a fun traveler. She loves to laugh and I'm convinced she can have a great time ANYwhere. I'm so glad she's my mom! Thanks, Mom, for letting us celebrate in style with you!

Next Post: A few of my favorite pics...

Baby Bump.Here's the Baby Bump, folks! 20 weeks worth of baby in there...

1.5 Hours

So, I have learned a lot about Iowa weather in the last few weeks...Lots of people joke about Texas weather being unpredictable and changing on a dime. Well, yesterday's Iowa weather beat anything I've ever seen in Texas! Yesterday it was so warm with the high at 58 degrees - truly balmy compared to the last several weeks. All of the snow even melted! It was great to catch a glimpse of the grass! It started to rain in the evening but still wasn't much colder. Long story short, when I fell asleep at 10:30p and woke up at midnight when Jason got home from work, there was 6 inches of snow on the ground!! I seriously couldn't believe things had changed so drastically in 1.5 hours. It snowed all night and now everything is covered in a blanket of snow again. Today the high is 20 degrees. Crazy!

Sad News.

It seems that the death of Cyd Mizell, who was kidnapped weeks ago in Afghanistan, has been confirmed by the organization she worked for. They state on their website they have received news of her "apparent death". Click here for the website. Sad news for those who loved her and have prayed for her over the past few weeks...but glorious news for Cyd - who is now eternally with the Father. Please continue to pray for her family and friends. May they be overwhelmed with the peace of Jesus and the comfort only God can provide.

My Soup Kitchen.

So, since living in the VERY cold Midwest, I have added lots of soup recipes to my collection...it's sort of becoming a soup kitchen. Since I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and have rarely blogged about my favorite recipes, here are a few of my all-time fav soup recipes. Most of these came from Epicurious - my favorite recipe website. Enjoy!

Broccoli, Red Pepper, and Cheddar Chowder

1 small head broccoli (1/2 lb)
1 large boiling potato (1/2 lb)
1 large onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
l large garlic clove, finely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup heavy cream
6 oz sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated (1 1/2 cups)

Discard tough lower third of broccoli stem. Peel remaining stem and finely chop. Cut remaining broccoli into very small (1-inch) florets. Cook florets in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, then drain. Reserve 3 cups cooking water for chowder. (Reserving the water helps to retain the nutrients.)

Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Cook potato, onion, bell pepper, broccoli stems, and garlic in butter in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add cumin, salt, pepper, and mustard and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add reserved cooking water and simmer (partially covered), stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream and cheese and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted, then season with salt and pepper.

Purée about 2 cups of chowder in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids) and return to pot. Add florets and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Serves: 6

Tomato Basil Cream Soup - as good as La Madeleine!

4 tomatoes - seeded & diced
4 c. of tomato juice
14 leaves fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 c. cream
2 tblsp. butter

Put tomatoes and juice in a stock pot over medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Put the tomato mixture in a blender and puree with the basil (remember to remove the center piece from the lid and cover with a towel - to allow the steam to escape). Return puree to stock pot.

Place the pot over medium heat and stir in the cream and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. DO NOT boil.
Serves: 4


Chicken Vegetable Noodle Soup

8 c. chicken broth (6 15.5 oz cans or 4 chicken bouillon cubes plus water)
1 c. chopped onion
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken tenders, cubed
2 c. yolk-free noodles (No Yolks Brand), uncooked
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Lightly spray a large soup pot with cooking spray. Pour 2 tablespoons of chicken broth into pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots, celery, and red pepper and cook 3-5 minutes, just until tender-crisp. Pour remaining chicken broth into pot; increase heat to high and bring soup to a boil. Add chicken pieces, noodles, pepper, and garlic powder to pot; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 25-30 minutes, until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through. Serves: 6

We're Back.

We had a fabulous time in Hawaii! Jason and I enjoyed the time in Maui to relax and enjoy a break. The time in Oahu was much busier, but we loved hanging out with Jason's friend Pagnarith from Cambodia. This was his first trip to America, so it was fun to hear his perspective of things. Jason and Pagnarith's presentation was very well received at the conference, and they were even recognized by an internationally-known doctor who specializes in treating kids in resource-poor areas. He thought the work in Cambodia was done so well, he offered to help Pagnarith and Jason publish some of their findings. It was a huge encouragement to Pagnarith, above all, because he lives and works in Cambodia every day. The battle with serious disease and poverty there is overwhelming at times, but it was awesome to see such a young Cambodian doctor be recognized for the difference he is making. He is a truly amazing person and we were grateful to share in his success at the conference.

Enjoy the pictures!

Jason and Pagnarith after parasailing in Honolulu. Too bad I couldn't get a close up of them on the parachute, but the speed boat didn't seem like the best place for a pregnant lady.

Pagnarith and Jason listening to other presentations at the conference...looking very smart.

"Our" poster displaying the research and findings. We label it "ours" because Pagnarith and Jason did the work and I designed the poster. What a team!

On the first night of the conference, there was a big welcome bash in Waikiki. Basically, a big fancy party on the beach with tons of food and entertainment. Pagnarith said, "I've only seen this kind of fancy party on TV! I feel like a movie star." Frankly, Pagnarith, us too. =) We don't hang out at parties like that very often either.

Mine and Jason's feet in the black sand on Maui.

We went whale watching and saw lots of whales! They were so quick, but I happened to catch a tail in this picture.

Self-portrait on the black cliffs of Maui.

Beautiful views on the road to Hana...

The Maui countryside.

Nothing.

There is nothing to report about Cyd's kidnapping. Investigators in Afghanistan have no clues about her disappearance and no one has claimed responsibility for her kidnapping...Please continue to pray for Cyd. Pray that God will give her great strength and peace. Pray also for her family who is grieving the absence of the woman they dearly love. May Jesus Himself be their rock, comforter, friend, and Peace.