Birdie Baby Shower

Last Saturday was my The Boy's big shower... kind of ironic the theme was all around birds! :) 

It was absolutely beautiful and I loved every second of it! The decorations were adorable, the food was amazing, and it was so fun to be surrounded by great friends! You can read more about the details on Brooke's blog.

This little bird cage held the wishes the everyone had for me and Cameron... it was so fun  to read them! I'm saving them forever. 

We had a fun little raffle where you could win cute birdie prizes. 

Check out the diaper cake Carolyn made.  I unrolled those little diapers and I can't believe how tiny they are. How can those little bums be so tiny?? 

The crepe bar was delicious and there were so many toppings to choose from. 

And words don't describe the cupcakes... they were adorable and delicious! 

Whit and Brooke

The Boy and I were certainly spoiled. Thank you for all the amazing gifts! 

Trying on the new backpack for size... I'm so hiking off this baby weight. 

The suspense of the raffle for the cutest prizes ever! 

And these favors by Whitney were to die for! Check out the "Tweet Yourself" sign. 

The girls... Brooke, Nicki, me, and April. 

Thank you to everyone who helped with the shower and who were there... it did not disappoint! 

I'm Completely Consumed

by these devil birds. In fact, I think my baby's room is starting to suffer because I'm consumed with these birds. I promise, one day when these birds find a new house to breed their feathered babies at I will write about other things. Until then, here's nest #4. 

As Cameron started to dig in he says, "It seems a little harder to knock down this time?" Oh great... knowing our luck there is probably a dead bird in the nest.  

Cameron raises the ladder and resorts to bare hands. Sick. He starts to pull it out and says...  "It's heavy, get the gloves." There is definitely a dead bird inside, I can feel it. 

Much to my relief, there was no dead bird inside. Instead we found these cute little eggs which caused me to feel days of guilt. I seriously feel bad for removing them from my home {and killing them}... but FIND A NEW ROOF. 

I Need A Gun

I'm going to kill these *($*#@$ birds. 

Look at her GIGANTIC nest. She must be Mormon... building a large nest for lots of eggs. 

And here's the happy couple... guarding their love nest. If only they knew what was about to happen.  

Cameron loves retrieving these nests... I think this is number 3 this season. But don't worry Cam, I'm handling it next season... with a gun.

It Happened.

I got the dreaded comment yesterday. Let me give you the play by play... 

IW (Insensitive Woman): When are you due?

{Everyone's favorite question along with asking what names you are thinking about}

Me: July 1st... I'm in the home stretch {thank goodness}

IW: Are you sure you are not hiding twins in there... you are looking big!

Me: Pretty sure I'm not hiding anything {as I give the courtesy smile and swear at her under my breath}

That's What She Said: Season 2

If you can recall back to last season... That's What She Said got killed in the championships. So when spring season rolled around it was a must to pull the team back together... 

sans me (the MVP I must add.. I think I got on base once last season). The Boy and I are sitting this season out (I know, could The Boy get any higher in my ribs??) 

Some shots from the game (that they lost) 

Holy sunset... 

Until the next game... 

Beginning The Goodbyes

Warning: I'm fat, I'm hormonal, and I'm emotional. It's just not a good combo.  

I have 6 weeks left in the school year and then I'm going to pack up all my accumulated materials, books, lesson plans, books on autism, and most importantly... my memories. I'll say goodbye to my awesome aides and teachers that I've been with forever and drive away. I'll say goodbye to the kids that have changed my life through the years. 

I'll probably not be back. 

I feel my baby kick, twist, and turn and I love it. I know he is mine and although I'm saying goodbye to something that I love... I'll be saying hello to someone that I know I'll love even more.

I love the parents I have worked with. I have learned from them and I have seen how their lives are changed by not only have a baby, but by discovering their child has autism. I have seen their perseverance, their patience, and their dedication. 

I have seen how their hopes and dreams for their child are still there, just different. I feel so grateful to know them and to be apart of their lives. I'm better for knowing them and I will miss them. 

I was reminded of all of this last week when Cameron and I went to a fundraiser to raise money for Par 4 Kids Sake. This organization was started by Eric and Cindy Everson, parents of two autistic sons, to raise awareness about autism and to help find a cure. They are inspiring, just like many others I know. Read their story here. 

Sewing Machine

It's true. I just ordered a sewing machine online from Costco. 

Cameron's swears that I won't use it and I swear I will. 

{If I use it once does that count?} 

Do You Want To Gain Some Weight?

Then you should either:

1. Get pregnant (It is really awesome)

2. Or make these coconut cupcakes. I think they are the best things I've ever eaten and I tried to ignore the fact that there are 6 sticks of butter in the recipe. I whipped these up for work the other day and they got rave reviews from everyone at work, my hubby, and myself. Seriously, Ina (from Barefoot Contessa) does not mess around with her ingredients... she loves her butter. On a serious note, try these!!

COCONUT CUPCAKES by Barefoot Contessa

3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature

2 cups sugar

5 extra large eggs at room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

14 oz. sweetened, shredded coconut

Cream cheese icing recipe below

-Preheat oven to 325 degress

-In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer running on low, add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

-In a seperate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In three parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

-Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each cup to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely. Frost with cream cheese icing and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.

CREAM CHEESE ICING

1 pound cream cheese at room temperature

3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature (although I only did 1/2 pound)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract

1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted

-In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, blend together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

Creativity

Sometimes at I wish I was more creative. 

Then I remember I don't have to be, because I have a Brooke. 

You will not believe the birdie shower invitations she designed for my upcoming shower... they are adorable and the cutest things I have ever seen. 

Check out how she made them here. 

The View From Up Here

30 weeks and my view is getting limited. 

My feet look like nubbins, almost invisible. Good thing I don't wear cute shoes anymore, I would miss looking at them. 

Farmer's Market

My perfect Saturday is sleeping in, going out to breakfast, and hitting up the farmers market. Exciting, I know. 

It never fails that we see one of my students and an employee from Cameron's work. No exceptions last Saturday. The samples are like taking a Saturday trip to Costco... although 1000 times better {and healthier}. We discovered these little treats on Saturday and they are delicious. So delicious I ate a whole one plain. 

I'm serving them up tonight with strawberries and fresh cream... I love summer. 

Seeing Stripes

It's my spring break and I'm nesting. My list is so long and enormous that all I can do is think about is how I'm never going to get that impossible list done. I think it is making me a bit cranky {other people might say, "It is REALLY making me cranky and crazy."} 

So I started with The Boy's room and a vision. Of course to recreate the vision I had to recruit Brooke... that girl has got mad skills. Moving into this house has opened my little closed eyes to DIY projects and I would have to say my painting has improved about 100%. It was pretty awful before.  Cameron totally has the rolling thing down and this room is our best work yet. Anyhow... Brooke and I did the stripes yesterday.

Here's how we started: 

And here's how we ended. 

Love you Brooke... thanks for spending your whole day painting with me.

Why Didn't I Think of This?

Here peep season is coming to a close and I found all these awesome peep ideas after the fact. I'm so making these s'meeps next year. Check out more awesome peep ideas here. 

And Michelle... I need this recipe! I love this idea!! 

Small Miracles

Some small miracles have been happening around here. 

The first: I activated some yeast

The second: I figured out ON MY OWN that I was using the wrong mixing tool for the mixer. 

The third (kind of): My bread looked a little bit like Emily's except it was a little smaller and undercooked. But who's counting? 

Next up: Cinnamon rolls. I recruited Cameron for this project... he was thrilled. 

Some how I collected a large supply of flour on my GINORMOUS belly. It is getting out of control. 

And they really turned out... I seriously still can't believe it. I'm sure they weren't as light and fluffy as they could have been... but they were edible my first time making them. Pretty much that was a miracle. 

Happy Easter!

They're Back

I went to get something on our porch the other day and noticed this on the ledge: 

Very strange. How did all these little twigs and flowers get here. It is certainly not from yard work because we like to pretend the yard fairies do that. But then I noticed noticed a bit of this on our driveway:

Gut instinct: look up. The devil birds are back... building another disgusting nest {soon to be full of disgusting poop.} Didn't they learn their lesson last time?? Now I have to ruin some birds dream of becoming a mother... on Easter weekend. 

2nd Anniversary

Two sweet years and 

I love you more than ever.