We have all had it!

I think the Psychotic Housewife and I are on the same wave length! I just read here post in which she was saying that she was going to war with her cluttered spice cabinet. Well, she is not alone! Mine looked very similar yesterday afternoon.
The cabinet that I was using was very narrow and was creating problems for me when it came to organization. Every spice rack display that I had found was too wide to fit the cabinet...frustrating! So I decided to just get the spices outta the cabinet and proudly display them.


I found this counter top spice rack at the wonderful Wally World for $10. And it spins! What a great feature! :) Can I just say that...I LOVE ORGANIZATION!

Little birdies on my porch!

This afternoon I stepped outside onto our apartment's balcony. When I bent over to pick up the trash bag full of clothes (that I have been meaning to take to Goodwill for months!) this is what I found.

A bird had made it's nest up against the bag.

Of course I couldn't resist and had to see if there were baby birdies inside so I pulled the bag back a little and there they were! I don't know how many but they were in the nest chirping away. Apparently I had disturbed there nap.

Weekly Menu

I have decided to begin posting my weekly menu for your viewing pleasure. :) If you see something you like and want to make, just click on it and the link will take you to the recipe. However, if the recipe was not found online and you would like it then simply leave me a comment and I will then comment back to you with the recipe. I hope that made sense!

So here it is folks...

MONDAY - Tipalia with Purple Potato Crust and Chive Rosemary Oil
TUESDAY - Leftovers
WEDNESDAY - Easy Lemon Pasta with Chicken

THURSDAY - Tilapia Corn Chowder

FRIDAY - Southwestern Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Fries

SATURDAY - Brisket with Carrots and Onions
SUNDAY - Chicken and Rice Casserole

Happy Birthday to Jason!

Today is Jason's birthday and even though he is crazy busy with Maymester and work I had to do something for him. Since he only had 1 1/2 hrs. for lunch I decided on a nice lunch, a "brownie" cake, and a gift.

Here is the birthday table. I set out the cards he had received. The poor thing had to open a pink gift bag with flowers to get to his gift...it's all I had.

I made Easy Lemon Pasta with Chicken.

The birthday boy...Rock Chalk Jayhawks! :D

He loves the Underworld series, I think part of his love has to do with Kate Beckinsale ;), so I got him the new movie that just came out. He hasn't seen it yet so this weekend we get to snuggle up and watch it!

These are his birthday brownies. I asked him if he wanted cake, but he's a die hard brownie lover so that's what he requested. To make them more birthday worthy I used icing to write "Happy B'day" (Not very well I might add.) on them and put candles in them.

Just to clarify, he did not feed his 3 1/2 month old daughter brownie...he just was acting like it! You silly. :)

So "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" to my wonderful husband whom love with all my heart! I love you sweetie.

I'm Hating.

Okay, I'm gonna hate on my hubby for a minute. After all he is my husband and I can if I want to!

Let me start with...I DON'T LIKE DOING LAUNDRY. My hate is mainly due to the fact that in our apartment complex the laundry room is on the other side of the grounds and I always have to make at least two trips to get everything down I need. Also, me no likey matching up socks!

So to get to the point this is why I'm hating. Shelby is a baby and as baby's do she spits up frequently. She does not have the best aim and often misses the burp cloth and spews all over you.
This may seem gross, but I wipe up my shirt and continue on with my day. After a while you can't even smell it and well, it dries right? Some times by the end of the day my right shoulder looks all crusty...EHWW! Jason is the OPPOSITE. If she even so much as dribbles a little spit up on his NEWLY WASHED, DRIED, AND HUNG, shirt it goes straight into the laundry basket. Here is a picture of a shirt that he put in the laundry today. Look closely...closer...see it...there near the bottom...there's a little dribble. He claims he could smell it and he would get sick if he had to continue wearing it.

Well, what can I say. After all he does provide the money for me to wash clothes. So I guess I can walk my hiney down to the laundry room and wash his spit up shirts.

Is being a breastfeeding fanatic a bad thing?

I posted this video because I found it to be interesting. The women are all very opinionated which I believe is in no way a bad thing. However, I do think being tactful in expressing your opinions is important.
Before I go on...Did you watch the video?



I too have had times in which I felt the need to justify myself to others concerning my decisions with Shelby and similar to the women in the video I do not like doing so. I made the decisions I did for a reason. I greatly appreciate people's input when I ask for it if the advice is delivered in a loving manner and if I know the person wants nothing but the best for myself and my baby. What I don't appreciate are the random people in the supermarket telling me how skinny Shelby is! These people don't know me or my baby. So keep your mouth shut! I realize it is not done in a malicious way but it still has the same affect. I begin to doubt myself wondering if I am feeding Shelby enough, am I producing enough milk, is she gaining enough weight, should I take her to the doctor? I don't like being insecure!

I have breastfed Shelby from the very beginning and fortunately have had no problems. Do I wish at times that I could hand Jason a bottle and take a break...YES! But I feel that research has proven that breast milk is better for your baby. Now, let me just say that I am aware of the large number of mothers that have all kinds of problems when it come to breastfeeding. It can be very painful and frustrating. I myself have not always produced enough milk. Therefore, I have made it a priority to drink 8 - 10 cups of water a day but for some women water consumption is not the main factor.
Women need to learn to support each other and not tear each other down. Every mom will make decisions about their children based on their families needs...no one else is qualified to make her decisions.

If a woman has to use formula due to circumstances beyond her control...so be it. If a woman needs to supplement with formula due to circumstances beyond her control...so be it!
Breastfeeding is what I have chosen due to the fact I believe it provides my child with optimal nutrition for her to grow and her brain to develop. I feel that breastfeeding should always be the first option for any mother and if for medical reasons she cannot continue then she should NOT feel guilty in any way or allow herself to be judged. However, I also feel that it's not right for a mother to simply never make the effort to breastfeed due to selfish reasons. My sister has jokingly said that she will never breastfeed due to the toll it takes on your "milk sacks"! When it comes time for her to make the decision I have no doubt that she will change her mind.

I hope to never judge another mother on the way she has chosen to raise her children, however I am human and am simply trying my best to live the way God has commanded. If I slip and am critical...well, I just hope I realize it and apologize.

You know you're a mom when...

1. You count the sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they're equal.
2. You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
3. You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
4. Your kid throws-up and you catch it.
   
5. Someone else's kid throws up at a party. You keep eating.
6. As you cling to the high moral ground on toy weapons; your child chews his toast into the shape of a gun.
7. You hope ketchup is a vegetable, since it's the only one your child eats.
8. You find yourself cutting your husband's sandwiches into cute shapes.
9. You hear your mother's voice coming out of your mouth when you say, "NOT in your good clothes!"
10. You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
11. You donate to charities in the hope that your child won't get that disease.
12. You hire a sitter because you haven't been out with your husband in ages, then spend half the night checking on the kids.
13. You use your own saliva to clean your child's face.
14. You say at least once a day, "I'm not cut out for this job", but you know you wouldn't trade it for anything".

I hope you enjoyed this list. I found it online and thought it was too funny not to share with you! Please leave comments with your own "You know you're a mom when..." moments!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

A Date with Dave

Thursday the 7th a wonderful family friend, Kim, and her daughter, Jade, came for a visit.
We had the best time visiting and catching up. She was so sweet and brought me a baby gift. Kim gave me some Dr. Seuss books to read to Shelby, a beautiful pink, girly photo album that I am dying to fill with pictures of my baby girl, and some fajita seasoning (inside joke).


Then in the evening Shelby and I had a date with Dave...Dave Ramsey that is.
My Dad teaches the class at church. My Mom, brother, Ben, and sister Allison, attend the class. My youngest brother, Dan, however managed to weasel his way out of having to.

My Dad is so knowledgeable when it comes to finances; if I ever have a question about insurance, investing, or anything money related I ask him.
The class was very interesting and at times went over my head but I was glad to have gone and took a lot away from it. I only wish I could go every week.
(Note to self: I need to find out if one is going on in Abilene.)

Dad teaching away.

The curriculum.

My friend Jaime showing off her book.

Part of the class.

My bro, Ben, paying very close attention to every word spoken. Yea right! lol

There was a nursery available during the class and I left Shelby in it. :( It was the 2nd time that she had ever been watched my someone other than family. At first, I was hesitant to leave her and then it was liberating. I was 12lbs lighter! The nursery worker, Stella, that watched her was the same lady that used to watch me in the church nursery when I was a baby. I wish I had gotten a picture of Stella holding Shelby! She was so content in Stella's arms.

A Thoroughly Terrific Thursday!

Pic of the Week

More Adventures With the Family

On Tuesday the 5th it was time for Shelby to make her 2nd trip to Bandera. We met at my cousin Monica's house and visited all morning and most of the afternoon. It's always great to get together with family.

Shelby snuggled up to her great grandmother and loving every minute of it.

Sad baby/Happy baby

Cousins!

Shelby's checkin' Hannah out.

So sweet

Look at those faces...precious.

Shelby loved being held by her Great, Great Uncle Joe.

Nursing Buddies

Later in the afternoon we all decided it was time for a little adventure so we headed down to the Frio River for a little fun in the sun. Dan, my little brother, the dare devil was climbing up the tall trees and then swinging on the rope swings. I would have been too scared to.

Dan, preparing for his big jump.

He is swinging!

Now he plunges into the water.

Look at that angle! Go Dan!

Emily even wanted in on the action!

What Dan? Are you king of the stump?!

We were big party poopers and just waded knee deep.

And that was our day in the Cowboy Capital of the World!

On the way...

Sunday the 3rd Dad drove Shelby and I down to his house so we could spend the week with my family. On the way we saw this huge cross on top of a hill in Ballinger. We had both seen the cross before when driving by but had never stopped. I told Dad, "Come on Dad! Let's be spontaneous and check it out!" So we did.
There was an entrance with a sign that read "The Cross". At first we were kinda wondering if we would be shot for intruding onto private property! After driving up a winding road a minute or two we reached it. An enormous cross.

Below it there was a place to pray as well as many other secluded areas around the cross to pray.

Also at the base there was a guest book and some pamphlets that explained how the cross came to be. For those of you that are wondering, below is what the pamplet had to say about the cross' beginnings.

"The Cross was erected by the Jim and Doris Studer Family as a thank you to God for all the blessings bestowed upon them during their life, particularly the time they have been in Texas.
The Cross belongs to everyone who believes in Christ and that He dies and rose to save us. It stands as a reminder of the love He has for us.
It is the hope of the Studers that those who view it may pause a moment to also Thank God for their many blessings.
Construction was by Steve Jansa, of Jansa Construction, Rowena, Texas. It was erected October 6th and October 7th, 1993. There was a Mulit-Faith Dedication November 28,1993."

You may visit this site for further info about this monument.
http://www.fnbballinger.com/sites/cross/cross.html

I was glad we stopped. What a beautiful and creative way to share Christ with others.

Dyess Big Country Airfest

On May 2nd was the Dyess Big Country Airfest and I was NOT going to miss it! Jason has been to several and has told me what a blast they are so, I was excited to experience one for myself. On Friday my Dad drove up and then on Saturday we all went.

Thank's to a lovely little law from a man named Murphy the weather was overcast, rainy, cold, windy, and just downright disgusting. I would also like to mention that the day before was sunny and warm. That just figures! Anyway, due to the unfavorable conditions many of the air show's fly-bys were canceled. But the day was not a total bust; two B-1 Bomber pilots braved the weather and conducted high speed fly-bys. It was AWESOME!!! The ground shook and it was so loud I had to cover Shelby's ears. We had waited forever and when we were able to see the B-1s for just the few seconds it made the waiting all a thing of the past.

I snapped a pic as one flew by but there is nothing like experiencing it for yourself.

Even though we only saw two planes airborne we saw many more on the ground. We were allowed to walk into the planes and even climb into the cockpits where one of the plane's operators would tell us what his job on the aircraft was as well as answer any questions we had.

This is the control panel of a C-130.

These buttons were drawn onto the C-130 control panel. Something tells me that they were added after the plane was manufactured.

We waited inside the C-130 to keep out of the wind.

Dad was checking out things.


If you ever see me driving one of these...GET OFF THE ROAD!!!

Same goes for him!


We waited in the car for a little while. Dad played with Shelby. She was in a playful mood and was cooing for him and playing with the car keys that he was rattling for her.

I promise you there is a baby amongst the blankets...a very warm baby!

Boeing (Jason's employer) had a booth set up. They work on the B-1's and had a handout that talked about the plane.

Jason was talking to his coworker who was manning the booth. Poor guy, he was stuck at that booth all day in the drizzle and cold.

Jason took over for all of 3 minutes while his coworker ran to get something. Wow Jason, what a contribution you made! LOL I love his smiley face chair.

Now I can say I have experienced an air show. I can't wait to go to another!