Winter pics

Pics I wanted to post before I forget to journal.

March 22nd

In celebration of my 5th anniversary as a Catholic, & for our new Pope, here's one of my favorite prayers; as it is also the patron saint of my workplace.

Intercessory Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

My Angel's Angel

Gluten-free muffins

Hearty muffins w/ dried fruit (GF)
1 c. Oatmeal mixed w/ 1/2 c. boiling water
1 c. GF flour
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
3/4 t. salt
1.5 t. xanthan gum
1/4 - 1/2 c. raisins
1/4 - 1/2 c. dried cranberries
1 c. Buttermilk
1/4 c. Canola oil
2 t. Vanilla

Mix. Let rest 10 min. Grease or paper muffin tins. Bake @ 375 20-25 min.
And as you can see, my biggest critic loves them. (Can also add dates or nuts. But since I'm allergic I just double up in the fruit. )

Piggy Tails

Pippy long stockings braids. (It's the small things in life we have to find our joy and playing w/ my daughter's hair is one of them!)

Big Girl Bed

Elizabeth moved from the smaller nursery to the larger yellow&brown room. We kept her in her crib w/ 1 side off like a daybed so it wouldn't be such a big change & then let her pick out her own big-girl bed. Needless to say she jumped on them all. She has done very well in her new bed.
She's also become quite verbal. Here she wanted me to "take my picture". When I went to go grab the camera it was "here doggy" so they could have their pic together. And everything is "whadda dong?" Even when I'm using the bathroom it's "whadda doing, Mommy?" Finally, slightly annoyed w/ the constant question, I said "peeing. What are you doing, Elizabeth?" Her ever so sweet retort:"Watching" lol. I laughed so hard at my daughter's simple innocence. What a fun age we're in.

Book Review on Alkalizing

Until I spoke w/ a nutritionist friend of mine, I'd never heard of alkalizing & I thought I'd share. Dr. Baroody's comprehensive research and clinical findings indicate that illness and disease are directly linked to over acidity in the system in Alkalize or Die: Superior Health Through Proper Alkaline-Acid Balance.

All the foods we eat are either acidic or alkalizing to our systems.  This book goes into great detail about the different foods, but here's a synapses:  Things that make our systems acidic are: animal products (meats, milk, and eggs), trans fats, as well as sugar, caffeine, and get this: negative attitudes!
Alkalizing foods include: fruits and vegetables. And positive attitudes are also alkalizing.  The best fruits to alkalize: melons & citrus, esp grapefruit (or add lemon to your water). Yes citrus is acidic, but our bodies change it and use it as an alkaline. Or eat your dark leafy greens. I also like Kyo-green, a gluten-free, wheat-free green supplement.

Dr Baroody comes at it from a standpoint that God created us to eat the foods that came from the earth.  He does not say we only have to eat only alkalizing foods, but to have a balance.
A steak & egg meal followed w/ a glass of milk is going to be very acidic.  Trade in one of the proteins w/ a side of fruit and trade in the milk for some 100% fruit juice instead. (and no, milk is not good for us adults, but that's another blog. http://milk.procon.org/?gclid=CKrAx-Haq7UCFWaoPAodNRoAxw)

ACIDOSIS:

• Makes Us Fat
• Robs Us of Energy
• Causes Allergies
• Causes Free-Radical Damage and Premature Aging
• Causes Excess Mucus
• Corrodes and Destroys Veins, Arteries and Heart Tissues
• Inhibits the Metabolism of Fatty Acids
• Causes Bad Cholesterol Problems
• Increases Blood Pressure
• Inhibits the Synthesis of DNA-RNA and Cellular Regeneration
• Stops Oxygen Delivery to Tissues

Acidic body systems are more likely to have cancer, arthritis, infections, and low energy. Cancer LOVES sugar.  Look into it more for yourself if you are interested.  VERY interesting!

A Brooks Weekend

Emalyn stretching out after all the commotion

It was a busy weekend. While we celebrated Emalyn Hazel's baptism on Saturday, we also celebrated Grandma Brooks life at her funeral.  We're blessed to have both of these lovely ladies in our lives.  May God bless them both.

I do have to smile because Grandma always made me promise to take care of her David, every time I saw her. Whether it was a promise or a gentle threat, I don't know :), but I will Grandma, promise.

Family Brooks

Grandparents



Family Parks

Emy loves having her hair "washed"



Godparents Kim & James

And baby Makes 4






Auntie Kim has the touch

Cousins are the best! E was SO exicited to see Auntie Kitty & Mark

Saying Goodbye to cousins Matthew & Mark

Miss you already, Great Grandma Brooks. Kisses.

20 Week Ultrasound

Had a 20 week ultrasound today. 143 Beats per minute. Dr. said everything looks good. Finally reached the halfway mark. I suppose it's time to tell everybody at work.

What Do You Bring to a Marriage?

I tell the girls @ work: I'm lucky. My husband brought love & patience to our marriage. He's such a devoted husband & father. He's a hard worker and my best friend.
Dave tells the guys @ work: (lifts up his favorite microwaveable bowl for his soup) this is the best thing my wife brought into the house when we got married.
Mmmm...perspectives. Hehe

Don't blame me

I decided to look for a bumper sticker that says"Don't blame me I voted for Romney".

Still teething

Miss Elizabeth is getting her 2nd 2 year molar. Poor baby. Thankfully she can now tell me "my mouth hurts", but it still makes a Momma's heart ache to see her baby in pain.
Thankfully she's easily distracted now by fun so going sledding on Sunday when the weather was beautiful was a perfect opportunity to spend time together outside & distract a sad baby girl.

18 weeks w/ BB2

145-150 beats per minute. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. 20 wk ultrasound in 2weeks. Baby Brooks #2 is well on its way. I felt this one stirring much earlier than BB1, but my placenta was also on the anterior wall last time too, which could have prevented me from feeling the early twists & tickles. Plus I know what to feel for this time. Elizabeth is @ a stage where she is cuddling her babies more and soothing them when they cry. "It's ok baby," she tells them as she pats their back and they stop crying. Hope she had that magic touch w/ this one too.

Brrrrrr!

-30 on the drive to work this morning. 13 above in the garage. Thank God for insulation & a wonderful husband & Dad-in-law who blew it in the ceiling this winter! Yikes. "This too shall pass."
Time to hang out w/ the girls in the house.

Check Out This Stringer!

GF Pumpkin Brownie Muffins

Ingredients: 1 can pumpkin and 1 box brownie mixMix: 1 can pumpkin & 1 box Gluten-Free Brownie Mix. Fill muffin tins. Bake @ 350 for 30-40 min.  You get a beautiful, dense chocolate treat.  Don't add any water, oil or eggs.  But remember to shape them pretty because they don't puff up.  They stay the same size and shape you put them in, but with a greased pan, they popped out nice.  I don't taste the pumpkin, but it's a really moist brownie/chocolate cake treat. Mmmmm. Thanks Mom!

Cookie Secrets

I love a good soft cookie. So here are two of my secrets to keep my cookies soft: Bread and pudding. To a single batch of cookies add one package of instant vanilla pudding. After your cookies are baked and in the cookie jar, add a slice of fresh bread. I use an end piece.
K there you go. My secret is out. :)

Can a Flashlight Burn a Rug?

Can a Flashlight Burn a Rug?
The MN MythBusters' results? YES! 
Elizabeth loves to play with flashlights.  This time she turned it on and stood it up (facing down) on the rug.  As you can see, it melted it.  For the longest time afterwards, she'd go over to the burn/melted rug and say "flashlight".  David had to explain to me what happened.  Needless to say the flashlights are now on a high shelf in the closet.
Just a warning to anyone who uses a flashlight and may forget it on anywhere -- they have the potential to be a fire hazard.

Petroleum Jelly

 After 3 winters of trying to find out what works best on my little Angel's dry winter skin, I've come to the conclusion I'm going with the ol' trusty: Petroleum Jelly.  The scents in the other lotions burn her dry, dry skin, even the unscented Arbonne Baby lotion, and she cries when we would put it on.  There are no tears with this and we only have to put on every 2-3 days because it works so well and lasts longer than mineral oil for her dry knees and elbows.  I highly recommend this no-tears approach if your baby is as dry as mine - and me.

Birthday Wishes to SPI

Happy 60th Birthday Grammy Koney!