Silas

January 31, 2013. My baby nephew's birthday. It has been a fabulous day.

For those of you that don't know my brother and sister-in-law's background, this was their third pregnancy. The first two ended with stillbirths. One at 22 weeks, one around 28 weeks. 

Both boys. 

Two funerals. 

Two teeny tiny caskets. 

The awful, gut-wrenching sound of a mother wailing next to her baby's grave. 

I'm sitting here crying thinking back on it.

Six months after they lost their first, they adopted a precious girl, Grace. Ten months after they lost their second, they adopted an adorable boy, Zeb. It has been such an emotional ride. They found out they were unexpectedly expecting baby #3 (or 5, depending on how you're counting!) the week before Charlie was born. Everyone was pretty shocked. And scared. And excited. Their doctor said that they would deliver at 28 weeks, regardless of the health of the baby, just to make sure. Everything was going so well that they decided to wait until 30 weeks, January 31.

Silas Bennett Lorntson was born today at 2:48 pm. 3 lbs, 6 oz, 18 inches long. Pink, squirmy, squeaking, breathing. So. Stinking. Awesome. I got to see Seth and Sonya today (and Silas!) at the hospital, and they are all doing well. I can't begin to imagine what they are feeling tonight. The last time I was on that floor, it was so very, very different. It will be a long road, as they have many days ahead in the NICU, but we are all praising God for this precious gift! 

Intervention

They say that the first step to recovery from an addiction is to admit that there's a problem. So it's about time I come clean, I suppose. *sigh* For the last several weeks I, Amanda Jennings, have been drinking...

instant coffee.

I know, I know. It's shameful. My mother-in-law is a coffee connoisseur, and I've been trying to hide my problem from her. My husband makes fun of me, and yet I return. Like a moth to an instant and barely satisfying flame. I have an awesome Cuisinart coffee pot and grinder sitting on the counter, but the allure of 65 seconds in the microwave is just too much for me to overcome. Clearly I need help.

It started when Charlie was born. It's not your fault, dear one. Don't blame yourself. The grinder seemed so loud when there were children sleeping. And pre-ground coffee required a measuring spoon, which was obviously too much of a burden for me to take on in the wee hours of the morning. Then I discovered Folger's instant coffee packets. Quick and clean. I tried to ignore it. Just one more time, I would tell myself. But the convenience continued to draw me back. Why must I struggle with this??

I need your help, friends. I need your encouragement and support. But most of all?

I need caffeine.

Charlie David Jennings

On September 1, 2012, we welcomed our third child into the world. Here is the story of Charlie's birth.

My due date was actually September 6, but as our other two kids were born early, we assumed that this baby would be too. I was hoping our baby would come on my dad's birthday, August 28. That week I picked up my activity level, going for long walks, going to parks, playing with the kids, racing Jack (I won, by the way), and nesting. On Friday (August 31), I went to lunch with Jeremy's mom and our kids. While I was there, Jeremy texted me this:

*yeah, yeah, I know. It's spelled "jalApeno."

He's so demanding. And he really didn't want me to go into labor at the beginning of a weekend, laboring all through the night, starting out with such little sleep (as had happened with our first two kids). Which, of course, is exactly what happened. 

5:30 pm: As I started to make supper, a wave of nausea and contractions hit me. By the time I sat down to have dinner, I was having contractions close to 3 minutes apart. I lay down and they subsided some, becoming more irregular.

8:00 pm: As we were finishing putting the kids to bed, I got an awful side cramp. After it lasted close to an hour, I called my midwife to ask what we should do. Because the side cramp seemed unusual, we decided to head to the hospital to get checked to make sure everything was ok.

9:15 pm: We got to the hospital and they started admitting us right away. I told the nurse, "I'm not even sure I'm in labor; maybe I should just get checked first?" You'd think that by round number three I would know if I was actually in labor or not.The midwife came and checked me and found that I was 6 cm dilated. Guess I was in labor! 

2:00 am: I had dilated to 7 cm, but progress seemed to be slowing, so I agreed to have my water broken. By the way, my water breaking has always been the defining moment when labor becomes WAY more intense, as I've never had an epidural. Laboring before that moment is like going for a jog on a nice fall afternoon. After that moment? It's like running a marathon. Up an endless flight of stairs that are covered in ice, even though it's 120 degrees out. Dragging a bag filled with bricks. Dodging bullets. You know...intense. 

2:30 am: While bouncing on a birthing ball, I got the worst case of the giggles. There I bounced, laughing hysterically, through contractions, to the point of nearly crying. My midwife came in and I told her I was pretty sure I had completely lost my mind. I'm surprised they let me take the baby home. 

3:15 am: I am no longer laughing. I put headphones in and turned on Blindside's "With Shivering Hearts We Wait" album. Perfect album to labor to for the next four hours. 

6:30 am-ish: Labor is stalling at 9 cm. My midwife asked if I wanted pitocin. I said I would try anything if it meant avoiding pitocin. I was becoming discouraged and thinking "I can't handle this any more!" I won't go into details here, but I will say I didn't end up having pitocin. And I will never forget the scene in that hospital room as I tried "anything."

7:00 am: I started pushing and completely stopped caring if our baby was a boy or girl. This was my first pregnancy where I did not find out the gender ahead of time. Jeremy did find out the gender at 20 weeks and kept it a secret the rest of the time. And he sure enjoyed it- watching me wash up boy and girl baby clothes, knowing which ones I would be packing back up later.

7:34 am: Finally, THE moment. 35 weeks and 1 day after I showed Jeremy a positive pregnancy test, we were meeting our third child, a son. Charlie David Jennings was born! All 9 lbs, 12.5 oz of him! I can't really describe how awesome that moment is...when everything you just went through is instantly worth it. "Thank you Jesus!!!" was really all I could say. New life is so amazing!

This...

..to this...

                      ...to THIS in a matter of hours!

The last 5.5 weeks with our newest family member have flown by. Charlie is an easygoing and laid back baby. He sleeps well at night, only getting up once the vast majority of nights. Jack and Brooklyn have adjusted far better than I ever imagined they would, and they love having a little brother. Brooklyn called Charlie her "little sister" for quite awhile (perhaps she was in denial?) but now talks about having two "brudders." When I see the three of them together with Jeremy, I feel like my heart is going to explode with joy.

I am blessed.

Honk If You're Crazy

Jeremy has been noticing lately that I seem to be losing it...mentally.  I think it stems mostly from the two small talking children that I'm around all day long.  If you're a parent, I think you know what I mean.  Let me recount a little bit of our morning in the car, running errands. My piano students were going be having their recital later in the day, so I was trying particularly hard to focus my thoughts.

*Ok, let me think. We should go to Staples first and then Hy-Vee. Oooh, I need to remember..*

Jack: Mom, is it today?
Me: Is what today?
Jack: Is IT today?
Me: I don't know what you're talking about. Is what today?
Jack: IS IT TODAY, MOM?!
Me: Yes. IT is today.

*Whew! Ok, so...Staples first. Then I need to figure out what we're having for lunch...*


Jack (we passed a pond): Mom, is that lake big enough to have sharks in it?
Me: No, sharks live in salt water.


*Wait, do they only live in salt water? Are there any fresh water sharks? I'm going to have to google that later*

Brooklyn: Salt water, Mama! Salt water! Salt water, Mama!
Jack: Is there salt water in creeks?
Me: No, creeks have fresh water. There's salt water in the ocean.
Jack: Is there an ocean in the creek?
Me: What? No.  I don't even know how to respond.

*I should have had that third cup of coffee this morning.*


Jack: Mom, let me tell you a joke. How do you make a sign out of junk?
Me: Umm...I don't know. How?
Jack, laughing: I don't know!!! Isn't that funny?
Me: No?
Jack: Is it funny when we say "I don't know"?
Me: Uhh...it depends on when you say it, I guess.
Jack: Why?

*Yeah, I really should have had that third cup.*


Jack: Mom, did you go the wrong way to get to Great Papa's?
Me: What?? When?
Jack: At Thanksgiving.
Me: Umm...no.
Jack: Oh.

*Good grief. Ok, so after Staples...*


Jack: Mom, do we drive a brownie car?
Me: Do we what? A brownie car?? No. No we do not.
Jack: Why not?
Me: Because we live in reality?
Jack: We live in what?
Me: Nevermind.


So there, Mr. Husband.  THAT is why I've been a little scatter-brained.   And by the way, freshwater sharks exist.

Quinoa Burgers & A Maiden

The Jennings have a new favorite recipe...so I had to share!  It's quite a few ingredients, more than I usually like to see in a recipe, but totally worth it!  And once you have all the ingredients on hand, these burgers are super easy to whip up. 

Quinoa Burgers (adapted from The Cancer Project)

1 cup cooked quinoa (about 1/2 cup uncooked)

1 cup mashed beans of your choice

1/4 cup wild rice (or brown rice or bulgar)

1/3 cup ground flax seeds

3 teaspoons Ener-g Egg replacer mixed with 6 tablespoons water (enough for 2 "eggs")

1/4 cup tomato sauce

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 2 garlic cloves, minced)

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

2 tablespoons horseradish

1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

3 tablespoons canned green chiles

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

salt/pepper to taste (I don't use any salt)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well blended.  Form into patties.  Chill 20 minutes before cooking (you don't have to do this, but it helps keep a nice shape).  Lightly mist a skillet with cooking spray or oil.  Brown each patty for approximately 5 minutes on each side.  I haven't tried it, but apparently they freeze quite well!

By the way, each patty (not including bun, toppings, etc) has 10.6 g protein, 8.3 g fiber, 102 mg calcium, and 3.7 mg iron.  

Dinner is served!

Now, for a completely unrelated Jack moment.

Jack: Do you want to see my friend?

Me: Sure!

Jack, opening this book:

Jack:  Right here!  Her name is Jimmy M.

Me: Jimmy M??

Jack: Yep! That's it.  Jimmy M.  She's my friend. *pause* What is she?

Me: What...is she? She's a maiden. All forlorn.

Jack: Oh.....she has a nice face.

Having a 3 year old is the best.

Oh hey everybody!

After 8 days without a computer, and far longer without a healthy, smooth-running one, we're back up and ready to go.  Let's chat.

1. So our computer?  Yeah...it had 200+ viruses on it.  I think at some point we got a virus that made our computer crash when we tried to update it so we stopped updating. Fail. Needless to say, we've been disconnected from most everything for a little while.  No tv (didn't have that anyway) and no internet or even smartphones.  Just our trusty radio.  So...what'd I miss?

2.  Somebody is going to be visiting an optometrist soon and may be needing glasses.  I'll keep ya posted.

3. Lately, I've had the feeling that people are friendlier to me when I'm wearing earrings. Do they make me more approachable?

With earrings

Without

4.  In the absence of having internet, we've been catching up on old dvds.  I finally watched, for the first time, my college senior piano recital.  Jack watched it with me and said, "You should wear clothes when you play songs in the movie."  Pearls of wisdom from that boy, I tell you.

5.  Sleeping in + coffee + sunshine + more coffee = the feeling that I can do anything.  Like sell our house and buy an RV and travel the country playing piano (with clothes on) to pay for gas and food.  Or open a cafe.  Or have a successful vegetable garden.  Or form coherent sentences.  Jack must be experiencing something similar because he literally tried to jump into his book the other day...you know, to be a part of the story.  Also, he wanted to ride on his kite over to his cousin's house. Follow your dreams, man.

6.  On a slightly related note, what's it called if you're manic depressive without ever being depressed?  Just manic?  Ok, because I think that's what I have.

7.  My nephew's still in prison.  And by that I mean, he hasn't been born yet.  Still waiting to hear the news!  Also, I keep thinking about how amazing birth-mothers are.  Women that choose to give a baby a chance at life.  Allowing their mistakes and heartbreaking circumstances to be turned into something beautiful.  I keep thinking about Seth & Sonya's birth-mother, as she spends her last few days carrying the precious life growing inside her.  Wow.

8.  Finally, some more Jack quotes (from my twitter) to finish out this post:

"I'm just going to take a nap in the pool."

Jack, holding a bobby pin, "I NEED TO BREAK SOMETHING WITH THIS!" then mutters, "that impossible."

Jack hit his head.  Me: "How'd that feel?"  Jack: "Good and dangerous."

"Wellll....we had a good day this morning."

"Keep it down, my child."

"My friends gave me money to take to the bank....in Whoville.  That's where my bank is."

"I just had to burp because I'm gross."

"The airplane will suck you up when you have a bald spot."

Jack, sitting in a lawn chair, "You come and dance, Mom.  I'm going to watch you."

Me: "You're a little bit wild right now."  Jack: "Am I?  Am I?!  AM I????!"



You. Are. Welcome.

Update

I'm supposed to be working on about fifty important things right now, so naturally this seemed like the perfect time to update the ol' blog.

The big 3:
Jack celebrated his 3rd birthday last month (March 21).  Originally he asked for a rainbow for his birthday but later changed his mind to a dump truck.  The dump truck was easier to find in stores.  I also made him this simple cake:

It's hard to believe how fast he's growing up.  Being a mom has changed me in so many ways (mostly good, although there is still that belly button issue..), and I love it.  Having a 3 year old is FUN!  I love, love, love the things he says.  In case you don't follow me on twitter, here are a few recent quotes:
  
    "Oooh, this is a scary game," as we played soccer.

    "I don't want to learn! Instead I want to eat and watch a movie!"

    "These are chock full of vitamins, Dad," pointing to his stir-fry vegetables.

   "When I came out of you's tummy, I was seeing you play the piano."

    "I came out of you's tummy, then I got bigger & bigger & bigger..then I made PIZZA!"

    "My throat hurts.  Can you help me fix it?" handing me his toy drill.

    "When I was shaving my head, I cutted my....window?" looking very confused.



Brotherly/Sisterly Love:

It definitely warms my heart to see Jack and Brooklyn together.  Sometimes, I just sit back and look at them, marveling at birth, growth, life, and God's creativity.  They are best friends and can drive each other crazier than anyone else.  Definitely siblings.  Sometimes it's hard for Jack to be responsible around Brooklyn (keeping smaller toys away from her, watching out for her when he's running around, staying calm when she ruins his game, etc).  Sometimes, ok..often, it's hard for Brooklyn to give Jack space (when he's on the potty, or in the bath, or eating, or playing a game, or coloring, etc).  It's quite a journey, this parenting business!

Bun in the oven (the prison one...):
Things are still moving forward for Seth and Sonya to adopt a baby boy from the birthmother in prison.  He's due June 27, and I'm getting pretty stinkin excited.  I can't wait to see him and kiss him and tell him how cool is aunt is.  Hurry up June!


Kid-freeeeeeedom:
Brooklyn had her first overnight with Jeremy's parents (along with Jack), and we were kid-free for a whopping 30 hours.  It was weird.  And awesome.  After being "together" for 10 years, and married for almost 7, I still love hanging out with Jeremy.  He just... gets me.


Brooklyn's BFF:

Morgan reading a book to Brooklyn.  

 Alright.  That should do for tonight.  Until next time when I have something important that I'd like to put off.....peace.

Happenings

Hellloooooo!  It's been awhile, so here's the latest Jennings news:

1.  Fred's here!  Fred is our Floridian friend that has come for the week to visit.  He and Jeremy went to Kansas for the weekend while Jeremy's band played a show there.  You can catch a ridiculous video of them here.  He's become like family to us, and we all love having him here.

2.  On Saturday, my mom and I took the kids to Bass Pro Shop in Altoona (because we obviously love fishing & hunting).  I had heard that they have an aquarium there with a fish feeding & live presentation that I thought Jack might like.  He loved it!  He sat in front of the tank for a long time talking nonstop about the fish, and then he asked where Jonah was.  Gotta love that kid.

3.  The kids and I went to Minnesota to help my grandpa celebrate his 90th birthday a couple of weeks ago.  It was a short 24 hour trip, but it was great to spend the time with someone very special to us.  Jack loves to go to Great Papa's house, and he'll be excited to learn that we get to go again next week during spring break. He is a great traveler, and I'd take him anywhere.  Brooklyn is...well, not so great in the car these days, but we make the best of it.

4.  We're getting a nephew!!  Seth and Sonya are adopting a baby boy, due in June, from a woman that is currently serving time in prison.  It's all kind of crazy and unbelievable, considering that it was only 6.5 months ago that they lost their own baby boy, but we're oh-so-excited to meet this sweet gift!  I'll definitely keep you posted on this unfolding story!!

5.  Brooklyn's had a bit of a rough month, with teething and being sick, but she's been much more cheerful lately, so I'm hoping we're moving forward.  She wants to do everything that Jack's doing.  If I ask Jack if he needs to go potty, she's in the bathroom ready and waiting before he is.  When I tell him it's time to put his shoes on, she quickly brings them to me.  Taking baths, reading books, building forts, playing cars, coloring....you name it, she wants to follow in her brother's footsteps.  She imitates a lot of words and says a few consistently, like Mama, Dada, Jack, baby, and blankie.  She likes music of any kind, but especially likes to dance to "The Wheels on the Bus."

6.  I cannot wait for spring.  Must. get. here. soon.  This winter has not been nearly as bad as last winter for us, but I'm still dying to play outside for hours, leave coats hanging up inside, go for bike rides, and plant our garden.  Speaking of our garden, I'm going to do better with it this year.  But for real this time.

7.  And finally, some Jack quotes:

"I just have to put this pillow over your face until Dad gets back." -last night as I laid in bed with him.

"I want to put my head in there," pointing to the toilet.

"I have a big rocketship on my face."

"I can't take a nap right now 'cause my back is really old and grouchy and has owies on it."

Wild Rice Crepes with Chickpeas, Potatoes, and Spinach

We had this for dinner tonight, and it was devoured by everyone at the table.  The recipe I used came from here, but I made a few changes to use what I had on hand.

For the crepes:
1/2 cup wild rice (uncooked)

12 oz rice milk
4 tbsp water
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Cook the rice first.  (I cooked extra so we can have wild rice burgers tomorrow).  Combine wild rice and 2 cups of water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer with lid on for 45-50 minutes.  Drain and set aside to cool.

For the crepes, combine milk, water, flour, and salt in a blender or mixing bowl.  Chill in the fridge for at least an hour.  Then mix rice into crepe mixture.  Heat a non stick crepe pan/small skillet and lightly coat with oil.  Pour about 1/2 cup of crepe batter at a time.  Flip one time.  The skillet I used is rather small, and I got 7 crepes out of the batter, although the first was a total flop.

For the filling:
1 large potato
1/2 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup spinach (I used frozen spinach, thawed)
Olive oil
Salt, pepper to taste

Peel and cut potato into small chunks.  Heat oil on skillet and add potato for several minutes (7-10?), followed by the onions, salt, and pepper.  When potatoes are tender enough, add chickpeas and garlic.  Add spinach until just wilted.

Place a large spoonful of filling in the middle of a crepe and roll up.  Spread heated marinara (or any type of sauce, really) over the top.  Enjoy!

In the future, I would like to try to make the crepes ahead of time and freeze them.  It took awhile to make all of them, as I could only go one at a time.  Also, the original recipe used mushrooms instead of potatoes.  I think you could probably use just about any vegetable that suited your fancy.  This would be an easy recipe to make gluten-free as well; just use a gluten-free flour (rice, corn, etc).

Today

I'm eating Papa John's pizza as I write this.  Yep, it's been one of those days.

Brooklyn's been sick for a few days with congestion and a fever of 102.  Her temp had dropped late this morning, and I was starting to think she was on the mend.  Then this afternoon, she took a turn for the worse.  I called the doctor and was waiting for them to call back.  While I was waiting, Brooklyn turned very pale, became blue around the lips, and started shaking.  Panic city for this mama!!  So I called 911 for the first time in my life.  I kept second guessing if I should have called 911, but I didn't want to wait around for her to stop breathing or something!  Morgan's daddy, Joe, was the first to show up at our house.  :)  Her color was starting to return, even though she was super lethargic.  We decided to just take her to the doctor ourselves, as she didn't seem to be in immediate danger.  While we waited to get into our appointment at McFarland, we took Brooklyn to see Dr. Michael, our chiropractor, who is always helpful and supportive.  By the time we arrived at McFarland, Brooklyn's temp had spiked to 105.  Yikes!  They determined that it was not an ear infection, meningitis, strep throat, etc, but a virus.  Darn viruses.   Oh, and today's earlier "event" was probably a fever seizure.  So that's neat.  If she gets worse overnight (vomiting, higher fever, etc), then we're supposed to bring her to the ER.  Needless to say, we just ate a bunch of pizza from Papa Johns.  I guess that's what we do when we get stressed.  Some people have a drink, some people work out.  We?   Eat cheese.

Oh, and in other news, Jack told me this today:

"I'm a movie painter.  You know 'bout that job, Mom?  Movie painters put movies on...in the SUMMMMER!!"

I think he might have had a seizure today, too.

Family Update

I've been letting things slide on here, so it's probably time to get caught up on family news, youngest to oldest.

Brooklyn
Eeek!  That girl is the sweetest thing, I tell ya.  She's cuddly, loves hugs and kisses, and still has a delicious smile. She's been walking solidly for a month now and loves to try to keep up with Jack.  Although she never took a bottle, she's a fantastic eater.  I didn't think Jack was that picky of a toddler until we had Brooklyn and realized that some children will eat anything.  It's awesome!  Tonight, she was fussing at the table, so I let her get down.  She walked to the counter and pointed at a spoon.  Turns out, she just wanted to have her own utensil!  I gave her a bowl of applesauce, and she ate it with her spoon like she was a pro.  *sigh*  Why do I forget that she's not a helpless baby anymore?

Jack
Just when I think that he couldn't possibly become more fun, he does.  Some of his favorites lately are monsters, Jesus, Jonah/large fish, wolves, ghosts, elephants, and trains.  He's also becoming genuinely helpful too.  He folds washcloths, sets the table, pours/stirs ingredients when I'm baking, uses the swiffer wetjet on the kitchen floor, and shovels the deck.  Oh!  And he's potty-trained!  He still has an occasional accident, but I'm slowly starting to take him out in public in undies.  Well....clothes too.  By the way, how do you handle the super inconvenient potty emergencies?  Like when you're in the checkout line at the grocery store with both kids or in the middle of a doctor's appointment?

Anyway.  Here are a few recent quotes:
"Friday night is Jesus' birthday."
"Daddy go potty 'cause him go pee in his pants."  (which did not happen, in case you're wondering)
"I want the light off and the door open.  That might be fun."  he told me at nap-time.
"HEY GUY! GET BACK UP ON THAT LADDER!"  yelling to the man fixing the neighbors' tv dish.
"I'm too old to pick up [toys] because I'm getting big."
"I need to drink coffee so me feels healthy."
"I'm happy you came home Mommy."

Amanda
Mehh, not too much news to report here.  I mean, the whole vegan thing has kept me busy trying new recipes, and I'm almost finished with the book, The China Study, dealing with nutrition and the typical American diet (which hardly belong in the same sentence together, it would seem).  I feel great and have more energy, although I'm pretty sure I'll feel even better when spring hits.  I don't mind the snow/ice/cold per se, but I'm not a huge fan of putting sixteen layers of clothes on my herd of wild cats every time we want to go outside.  What? You have a herd of wild cats?  Sorry, I mean, the kids.

Jeremy
Hold on to your hats people.  Jeremy has been feeling pretty stinkin good lately.  And in case you didn't know, that is big news.  Jeremy's had chronic back pain for 6.5 years, catalyzed by the bridge+rope swing+shallow water incident, and injured further when we moved almost 2 years ago.  Our chiropractor, Dr. Michael, has helped a ton since the move, and he helped to bring us out of a very difficult time.  That being said, Jeremy's had to see him 1-2 times a week for nearly two years.  Until this month.  He hasn't gone yet.  Yes, the same month that we switched to a totally plant-based diet, Jeremy's back pain improved dramatically.  One possible explanation for this is that clogged/blocked arteries can cause pain and degeneration.  As blood flow improves, pain decreases.  Makes tons of sense, really.  And it's probably all the incentive that we need to stick with this thing...because there's nothing like good health.


Alright, that should do it for tonight.  I'm off to slaughter a vegetable.

What's For Dinner?

Oh hey.  It's January 11.  Remember when I was going to post a vegan meal plan of what we'd be eating this month?  How about a list of what we've been eating and a link to a menu already planned out?

What we've had;
*Veggie sandwiches (think Subway with tons of veggies, no cheese, and a bit of oil)
*Spaghetti with garden vegetable marinara, steamed veggies on the side
*Rice and bean enchiladas using a bit of Daiya cheese instead of cheddar
*Stir-fry over rice (or noodles).  Jeremy tops his with Thai peanut sauce; Jack and I stick to plain soy sauce
*Tacos with black beans, rice, salsa, tomato, onion, and whatever other veggies you like.
*Wild rice burgers with sweet potato chips/fries on the side.
*Pizza using this super easy crust recipe, topped with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms (or any other combination of veggies) and a bit of Daiya cheese
*Butternut squash soup, adapted from a friend's recipe.


Then, a friend sent me this awesome website for those that are trying out a vegan menu.  It's super helpful, and has suggestions for dining out and other considerations.  Thank Erinn!!

We're only eleven days in, but we can already tell a noticeable difference.  We both have more energy and leave each meal feeling full but never overstuffed.  If I'm hungry I eat and snack on fruit, veggies, bagels, nuts, etc.  One interesting thing is that Jeremy's back pain has been greatly diminished.  I find it hard to believe that it's a total coincidence, and I'm interested to see what the rest of the month brings.  If changing our eating habits could mean pain relief for him, I would be sold for good.

By the way, this whole no meat/dairy/eggs thing is really pretty easy and delicious!  You just have to be willing to try new things!

Butternut Squash Soup

1 shallot, finely chopped
4 T olive oil
3 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cubed
11 whole leaves of fresh sage, washed, divided
4 cups vegetable stock
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup vegan cream cheese (I think you could probably use almond milk too?)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg

1. In stockpot, saute the shallot in olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add squash, 3 sage leaves, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 20-30 minutes, until squash falls apart when stuck with a fork. 
3. Puree soup by portions in a firmly covered blender, 2 cups at a time. When you've finished, return pureed mixture to stockpot. 
4. Stir in cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg over low heat. Taste the soup to determine whether or not to add more cinnamon, sugar, salt, and pepper. 
5. Serve garnished with whole leaves of fresh sage.

Vegan Rice Patties

Mix in a medium bowl:
*2 cups cooked wild rice
*1 cup (or less) Daiya cheese
*3 T flour
*1/2 cup minced onion (I use onion powder)

Whisk together:
*1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
*3 Ener-G "eggs"  (the original recipe called for 3 egg whites)

Combine with rice mixture.

Heat oil and spoon approximately 1/3 cup of rice mixture onto the skillet.  Press down to make a patty shape.  Cook patties, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.  Top however you like!

Here's the original recipe, using egg and cheese.

No Seriously, What Would Jesus Do?

Here's one of my all-time favorite answers to a relatively common question/idea among Christians, from The Simple Way. 


Should I give money to homeless folks or beggars?
Jesus said give to everyone who asks. That’s a tough command. Sometimes we wonder what Jesus would do in the Calcutta slums or in these heroine-haunted streets where folks ask for change on every corner. What we can say with confidence is that we are to give something to everyone who asks – dignity, attention, time, a listening ear. Sometimes we may give money, sometimes not. But we can always give love. And there are times when giving money can even be a way to insulate ourselves from friendship or the messiness a real relationship might demand. So you can toss a few coins to a beggar or write a check to charity precisely as a way of insulating ourselves from relationships (and still appease our consciences)… but at the end of the day Christ’s call is to relationship and compassion. When Jesus speaks in Matthew 25 about caring for “the least of these”, the action he speaks of is not about distant acts of charity but personal actions of compassion – visiting the prisoners, caring for the sick, welcoming the strangers, sharing food with the hungry. Better than sharing money is sharing life, a meal, a home. Having said that, most Christians need to get taken advantage of more. And we can usually spare some change. Sometimes folks say this question about giving to beggars and panhandlers with suspicion, speculating that homeless folks will just use their money for drugs or alcohol… which happens sometimes. But we don’t always ask what CEOs are doing with our money when we give it to their companies (and the recent events on Wall Street raise some flags about how responsible they are!). In the end, if we cannot take someone to dinner or give them a ride when they ask for money, we might as well give some money. It’s better to err on the side of grace than on the side of suspicion. And we doubt that Jesus is going to reprimand us for giving too much money to addicts… more likely, we will discover we could have been a bit more generous than we were.


Thanks, Shane and friends, for that reminder!

Randoms

1. My piano students had their Christmas recital tonight, and they all performed splendidly.  Tonight was the first winter recital in four years that was not canceled/rescheduled due to snow or missed so I could deliver a baby.  Score!  Also, I was given several sweet gifts from students, including a Starbucks gift card.  Someone knows me well, and it can be assumed that I will be taking a little outing with the kiddos tomorrow. :)

2. I've eaten a lot of cookie dough this week.  And leftover cupcakes from Brooklyn's birthday.  And an abundance of junk food in general.  And while it's been a delight to my taste buds, I'm starting to feel pretty nasty.  If you've had extra sweet treats around your house, then I'm guessing you know what I mean.  So.....for the month of January, Jeremy and I are going vegan. Honestly, I just want to see if we can stick with it for a month, and if so, see how we feel at the end of it.  Want to join us?  My plan is to create weekly menus and post them for anyone that's interested in joining in.  (I mean, really, what else is there to do in January?)  Mostly, I just need a little accountability to stick with it.  We tried it for a week last summer....and made it 2.5 days.  I would love meal/recipe ideas!

3. In case you're just waking up from a cryogenic slumber*, Christmas is almost here.  Which means that there has been a lot of talk about Baby Jesus around this house:
      "I want Baby Jesus to sleep in my room!"  
      "I need to feed Baby Jesus!"   
      "Baby Jesus is in the sky outside. I need to listen to him in my ear!"
     
It is a pretty exciting thing, really.  Jesus coming to earth as a baby to save humanity.  The greatest act of sacrificial love.  Yep, definitely something to celebrate!

 4. Our house is a disaster.  I have approximately 2,734 projects that I would like to accomplish in the next two weeks.  Here's hoping that I can make it through the first two...

5.  Jack got a haircut (thanks Aunt Sonya)!  And it's sooo much more manageable.

From this:

To this!

6. Brooklyn loves music.  She dances uncontrollably the minute I start singing or playing the piano and tries to sing along.  It's pretty precious.  

In case you can't tell, she's singing "O Holy Night"

Alright, that's all for tonight.  Thanks to items #1, 2, and 4, I'm getting pretty sleepy and in danger of rambling even more than usual.  Here's one more picture of sweetness to hold you over.

*Is that even an appropriate usage of the term?  My sci-fi-knowledgeable husband is currently sleeping...

My Dearest Brooklyn...

When I found out I was pregnant with you, Daddy didn't believe me. Your Uncle Mark was the one who finally told him, "I think there really is another line there."  I couldn't imagine loving another child as much as I already loved your brother, Jack.  But your Grandma told me that my love would just multiply.  She was so very right.

When we found out that you were a girl, I was the one in disbelief.  I had no idea how amazingly sweet it would be to have a daughter.  But I know now.  You have a smile that lights up the room.  You've always liked me to hold you, and I love that about you.  I wish I could always hold you.

When you were born on that cold December morning, it was....incredible.  I was the one to pull you into my arms, perfect little you.  And I will never, ever forget the way that Daddy held you for the first time, as though you were the only two in the room.  You are captivating like that.

When you got sick at five weeks old and we had to take you to the ER, I cried.  I cried even more when they poked and prodded and gave you an IV in your  tiny hand.  But I look back on those next few days in the hospital with you fondly; we bonded during those quiet hours.

When you started to sit up and eventually crawl, Jack started to play with you more, and you two have become fast friends.  I love how he says, "I need Brooklyn in my room!" and how you giggle at his every move.  I hope you are always close friends and look out for each other.

When you were seven months old, Daddy and I took you to Florida.  You were the best traveler and a delight to everyone.  We got to see a lot of things and spend quality time together.  I know you won't remember it when you grow up, but I have some incredibly cherished memories from that trip with you.

When I sing silly songs about being in the kitchen or I sit down to play the piano, you dance and squeal, and it warms my heart.  I hope you'll let me teach you how to play the piano, but if you don't want to, that's ok too.

When we celebrated your first birthday today, I found it hard to believe that it's already been a year since that amazing day.  You are a delight to Daddy and me (and a lot of other people, too!), and we thank God that we have the privilege of being your parents.  We love you so very much, sweet Brooklyn.  Happy birthday.

Love,
Mommy

My Vote

In honor of this heated midterm election week, here's what I'm voting for:

*Wearing the same jeans every single day.  Ironically, even though I find myself wearing the same jeans and  over-sized sweatshirt (hello, What Not to Wear??), there always seems to be an abundance of my clothes in the dirty laundry pile.

*A break from teething.  Good golly miss Molly!  Brooklyn's mouth has been an explosion of teeth this week, and Morgan's been working on a couple too.  That being said, they've actually handled it pretty well, so I can't really complain.  Although...Brooklyn's diapers have been a force to be reckoned with.  Yeesh!

*Coffee.  If you know me at all, you know that I'm pretty addicted to coffee.  I have exactly 2.5 cups every morning to get me going.  I don't know how you moms that can't have any survive!  We try to buy fair-trade coffee as a small and simple way of recognizing the value of the laborers producing our goods.  "Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor." Jeremiah 22:13.  We still have a long way to go in terms of the clothes we wear and things we use on a regular basis, but I guess you have to start somewhere, right?

*Wild Rice Burgers.  Jeremy's parents recently introduced us to this heavenly recipe, and I am smitten.  I'm pretty sure that world peace could be achieved if all the world leaders sat down to a meal of this goodness.  No joke.

*Music.  I don't know what I would do without it.  Singing the babies to sleep, helping my piano students develop, leading worship at church, or singing silly songs with Jack about everything from elephants to trains.  Music is definitely a sanity-saver.

*Laughter.  Being married to Jeremy Jennings and being the mother to two little ones, I laugh a lot.  A LOT.  You should too!  Laughter reduces stress/pain/anxiety, increases immunity, and just feels good.  Don't have much to laugh about?  Come have dinner at our house!  I'll even make wild rice burgers.  :)

Open Mouth, Insert....

Boob.

First, this blog is about breastfeeding.  Consider yourself warned.

Second, this blog is in no way intended to make anyone feel guilty about not being able to breastfeed.  I know firsthand how difficult it can be, and not everyone has an amazing lactation consultant for a mother-in-law like I do!  If anything, this is just to be an encouragement for those that are considering it or are trying desperately to stick with it. 

I guess I'm thinking about all of this right now because my little barracuda baby is less than two months away from her first birthday.  Remember this?

Those days are far behind us, and now I'm realizing (with some sadness) that I probably won't be nursing much longer.   And it's kind of strange to think about because I've been pregnant or breastfeeding for nearly three and a half years straight.  I'm pretty much a factory.

Here's why breastfeeding has been awesome:
1. It's free 
2. It builds up baby's immunity (Jack has only had one ear infection requiring antibiotics ever...Brooklyn has had none)
3. It's easier for baby to digest
4. It's always available, even in the middle of a blizzard or flood (assuming I'm alive)
5. It requires no prep in the middle of the night
6. It requires no bottles, brushes, formula, water; all I need is a nursing cover (of course, lots of nursing moms do pump and use bottles, etc)
7. It releases the hormone, prolactin, which helps to relax the mother and lower stress (uhhh, THANK YOU, Lord, for prolactin!)
8. It burns more calories (approx 500 per day) and helps with that pesky baby weight
9. It also has possible long-term benefits, such as helping to prevent cancer, diabetes, and other diseases.

Convinced yet?

I know that I have things pretty ideal.....my mother-in-law is an excellent lactation consultant, and I'm a stay-at-home mom (most of the time).  And despite that, it was still a challenge getting each of my babies to nurse well (ok, Brooklyn nursed well but was equivalent to a paper shredder).   All that to say-it has been worth it.

So there ya go.  For me, it was just nice to know that others had struggled through it and survived.  You can too!

Tequila!

Let me start off tonight with a story that is completely unrelated to the rest of this blog.

First, in case you haven't met my mom, she is the very last person on the face of this earth that would drink alcohol.  A couple of years ago we were playing the game Taboo as a family, and the person giving hints said something about a Mexican drink.  My mom shouted "tequila!" very excitedly.  We all stopped and looked at her, at which point she sheepishly said, "that's a drink, right?"  Ever since then, tequila jokes have been made with our family on a fairly regular basis.

Ok, now on to the rest of this totally unrelated blog.

Jeremy and I had another Friday night date tonight.  We've been making it a habit lately, and man, this is a habit that really needs to stick.  I love our dates.  For a couple hours, I'm not a jungle gym, housekeeper, or dairy farm.  I'm just an adult (I use that term loosely) hanging out with the love of my life.  Talking about theology, or our future, or our dreams, or coming up with some crazy idea.  There's usually a lot of laughter on our dates.

Interestingly, my mom left a message on my phone tonight, because someone had ding-dong-ditched a bottle of tequila (and bag of chocolates) on their front doorstep.  She had her suspicions as to who the culprits might be, but I'd rather not give out any names.  She was also concerned as to what exactly she should do with said bottle, which, I assume, is part of the humor in the whole thing.  I also assume that the culprits shared a good laugh as they scampered away in the night, like two an unknown number of mischievous kids.