Waiting Game

I am oh-so ready to meet Mr. Pike baby 3! We know his name...not the middle. I am a couple of days away from 38 weeks!! C-section is scheduled for April 13th and I'm just praying that he comes before then; I am a big, fat whiner and it won't stop until he comes out of me. It's a selfish mixture of wanting to be out of pain and discomfort, paired with this yearning to meet him, kiss him, hold him, love him, and take tons of pictures of him. =) I'm looking forward to Hudson and Archer meeting him, taking him in, and loving him as well. The two of them are so close and I can only hope that little "L" will join the club of closeness.


A few weekends ago my sister-in-law took some great photos of the boys and I outside on the farm. I was 35 weeks at that point. Hopefully the next time I post it will be a story of how we came to introduce our sweet 3rd boy into this family. Happy Spring, everyone!

Back with Brownies

It's been too long. I'm sharing one of my baked goods recipes with you all. I call them "Bestest Brownies" and they have flax seeds in them, yes. You can omit them if you'd prefer, but I have rave reviews from happy "customers." I ran out and just made a batch without them...they're still pretty yummy, in my opinion.


In other great news, we are awaiting the arrival of our third little boy, come late next month, early April. My pregnancy is progressing as smoothly as one could hope for...just feeling awfully big and tired. But, for the most part, all has been well. =)


We're also back in Kentucky! My hubby and his brothers are taking over the family farm: Pike Valley Farm. Check us out on Facebook. ;) Like my plug, there? Ruthless, I know. We're enjoying living on the farm with our neighbors, Daniel and Kristin (Josh's brother and sis-in-law). We have a big family here...it's nice.


Without further ado...the brownie recipe!


Bestest Brownies


Double batch/ 9 x 13 inch pan / 350 degrees F. 25-30 minutes


1 cup room temperature unsalted butter
2 cups organic sugar
4 pastured eggs
1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup Gold Brand unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine kosher sea salt
1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
4 Tablespoons flax seeds


The batter will be nice and thick, so you'll have to spread it out when you put it in the pan. I'd recommend buttering and lightly flouring your pan before adding the batter.


Almond Chocolate Frosting


5 Tablespoons room temp. unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 T. honey (I use raw honey)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons almond extract (possibly more...I just pour it in) always taste test your batter and frosting...it's the key to being a good baker!
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream  


Whip it! Whip it good. Don't forget to taste it! Spoon the frosting on top of the hot brownies, straight out of the oven so it gets nice and melted.



Enjoy!!


Peace.

Life and new pictures!

Well hello new blogger format. I feel distinguished.

Archer is eating paper. I should go get it out of his mouth. Eeeeeeehhhh. Little paper never killed anyone.

Today Hudson went to the doctor for a check-up. He is a healthy 34 lbs and 37 inches tall! All of his social, verbal, physical, and emotional markers are where they need to be and some he's exceeding in. The doctor recommended keeping a lookout for pre-schools already. I am not ready!! Avoidance and denial.

After we left the office we made a pit stop for some much-needed toilet paper. How does this happen? I'm sitting there and....seriously? How did I not notice that was the last roll? Crap. No pun intended. TMI? Yeah, that's just what you get with me. I don't care what you think. Hopefully, you think I'm funny. Yes, I did just contradict myself. I'm pregnant. Sue me.

While at the drug store (funny term...I can't get weed from there, let's call it something else?)...pharmacy, I picked up new make-up!! Roll out the red carpet and call the paparazzi! I rarely wear make-up. An old, frumpy, married, mommy. It's time for a re-vamp. Time to get pretty again. Time to make me, and my husband feel a little better.

Love and marriage. Love and marriage. Goes together like a horse and carriage. This I tell you bro-ther. You can't have one without the oth-er. Kids, look it up. It's the theme song from an old tv-show called "Married with Children." Sometimes you just get comfortable. Too comfy. Pajama pants (they are sooooo comfortable), hair pulled up crappily, glasses on, over sized t-shirt, no make-up---------CHECK! To all of the above. You single fashionistas may say no way; but it may happen to you some day. Just wait. All things are possible. And when it does...and it's been a few years you'll say to yourself....let's make a change. Let's care again. Turn the hubby's neck and make him drool. Be prepared for consequences to these actions. =)

It other news, I have a wicked scar forming (on my huge bicep) from an oven burn while pulling out our family homemade pizza the other night. I look like a rough, tough person who might pull a knife on you if you look at me the wrong way. Don't ask me where I come up with these things; I suppose I'm just a lunatic.

We now have a duo babysitting club every weekend, thanks to Michelle and Bob for spending quality time with our boys while we re-learn how to be a couple instead of just a mommy and daddy. =) It's SO important to us and we are thoroughly grateful and happy about this set-up. They always do our dishes for us and usually baking is involved. A couple of weeks ago they made us homemade apple cider. Mmmm. =)

I am weaning Archer from night nursing. The first couple of nights he couldn't get back to sleep and instead, stayed awake for at least 2 hours. The whole house was awake from 1-4am Tuesday night. Last night he woke up at about 2:30am...I heard a little whine and then nothing....peace. He went back to sleep on his own, without me. Bittersweet. But, I'd really like to start sleeping through the night while I'm pregnant with this baby. I nursed Hudson throughout my entire pregnancy with Archer and while I loved it; it was tiring and uncomfortable in the night, because we shared a bed. He woke up a couple of different times in the night so I'd roll my big pregnant belly over so he could alternate sides (and so I wasn't lop sided when I woke up). =) If all goes well, Archer will be sleeping through the night by the end of the week and just nursing a couple of times for naps and bedtime.

Cravings: Olives. Lemon anything. Hot dogs with guacamole on them. Raw milk. Parmesan. Pretzels with cream cheese and chives. Tea with honey. Rice cooked in stock. Grilled cheese sandwiches made with muenster (thanks to Josh).

Hudson has literally all of the sudden started singing complete nursery songs. He is singing twinkle twinkle little start right  now---continuously. It's like he's saved up all these songs for is whole 2 1/2 years of life and it's just clicked. He's amazing. It is so breath-taking, and it just makes my heart sink thinking about how big and smart and precious he is. Oh, and he's so sweet! If I step on a toy in the kitchen and say, "Doh!" Hudson comes running out and kisses my foot.

It's time for an episode of Drop Dead Diva.

Enjoy your September 1st!

Peace,

All of the Pike Grandkids: Zeke, London, Hudson, and Archer

Mark, Caitlin, London; Josh, Jamie, Hudson & Archer; Kristin, Daniel & Zeke

With my sis-in-law, Kristin, and my niece, London. Puppy Trevor.

The first born kids. Zeke, London and Hudson. All within 6 months of age. What a hoot!

Hudson. This is his "fire hat." He's SO into firemen, trucks, etc.

Silly faces!

Trying anything to get them all smiling and Archer's thumb out of his mouth! =)

Don't judge. It wasn't open and I took it away---right away! He's teething. ;)

Jamie

My thoughts

These are literally thoughts that have gone through my head today: (and since my enter button is currently NOT working) it won't be in the pretty format I wanted it to be. Thoughts: Is it really time to wake up already? Did I sleep? When can I go back to sleep? Get up and go get Archer out of bed. Hurry up and put the baby gate in front of the bathroom before he sticks his hand in the toilet. Why do I have to clean off the table every morning so this little monkey doesn't grab everything and make a mess, doesn't he LEARN? Oh, alright, yes screaming already....you need food, what's easy? Blueberries and honey wheat toast with peanut butter. Hopefully that will fill you up. Ughh my stomach, I am so nauseous, it's getting to be that time of the pregnancy where I have to eat every hour in order to function and not feel like I have to vomit, can we skip this part? Smile to myself and think that the baby is an inch long already. Must make phone calls to schedule doctor appointments for everyone. Hopefully Josh can come home and help me with these, it would be so much easier to just take one at a time for appointments, or to go alone for mine. My cell phone replacement should arrive today-looking forward (not) to manually switching all my numbers into this new one. That should be fun considering my screen doesn't light up 95% of the time. Is it nap time yet? What will make these kids listen to me? Read books...this is working. My teeth hurt...maybe I should floss. Pink in the sink....aaaah to be pregnant and nursing for the past 3 years straight...I hope I have all my teeth by the end of all this. I would shrivel up and cry if I had to have teeth pulled. Still stumbling around feeling sick and exhausted.

Ahhhhhh HA my enter button is working!! Wth?

This is how your brain works on crack pregnancy hormones. At least mine anyway.

Eat. Eat. Need to eat. Sleep, shower, eat. Keep children alive.

I called to get an estimate on repair for my camera and it doesn't sound pretty. I am going through withdrawal and foaming from the mouth when I miss beautiful moments that I can't capture. I have a few left on my disposable camera and I suppose they can digitize those for you these days, right? That was stone ages ago when I had to turn in film or a camera to get prints back!

We survived a decent 5.9 earthquake here at home and on the farm. It was pretty intense and I was just a teeny bit frantic and didn't know why the house was shaking or what to do with my precious children?! This weekend hurricane Irene passed through the east coast and she brought us delightful breezes and cool weather. I read somewhere there were 20 deaths from her destruction and my heart goes out to their families. But, still, I enjoyed the breeze (ok more than a breeze, less than a tornado)......there's a lot of in between there. Use your imagination.

Old pic from the month of April.

Peace!

Baby News!

Last week I took a pregnancy test that was positive! We planned to start trying just last month and were successful in our first attempt. Praise God! We feel so very blessed with the gift of fertility and healthy children, as we know it is a miracle.

I'm early...about 6 weeks in. Guessing a late March baby. Everyone wants a girl. I don't mind another boy. Just another healthy babe. We'd like more than 3, so hopefully this isn't our last attempt! We will find out the sex at about 20 weeks, which is in late November. In the past we've shared, but who knows about this time? Maybe we will, maybe we won't. Name suggestions are taken with a grain of salt, but I really do enjoy hearing other people's creative ideas.

I've had a long day with the boys and I'm at the end of my....whatever patience and niceness I have, so I'm ending this post. Just wanted to share the good news.

Peace.

OMG

Yeah, I said it. OMG! I just went into my archives to reminisce and was laughing my butt off. I am a bit of a different person now, but I still remember that crazy girl. If you decide to look back, enjoy. =)

Jamie

Yesterday VS Today

Yesterday was a peaceful day. The kids were on their sweetest behavior and showered me with kisses. Archer is saying new words and Hudson is wearing a size 10 in shoes. They are growing, and blossoming right before my eyes. I just took in deep, relaxing breaths, and soaked it up. They are so precious. Little miracles. Our little people.

Today....eeeeeeh, not so peaceful. Ha! Ha! The boys are rowdy, into everything they shouldn't be, and very narrow minded (my way!) and that's it. Tantrums, screaming, etc., you get the idea. I have not had the best patience today...and after sitting to type I'm finding my zen. And now Archer finds the LOUDEST toy to play with. LOL. Gotta love 'em.

I gave Archer his first buzz cut last night. He looks like a big kid. Today he has said new words: cracker, and hot dog (in his own cute way), but I understood him. Hudson loves to pretend he's a fireman. He has certain toys, or items that he has in tow, a hat on backwards and says, "Bye, Mom, see ya later, love you!" Then he puts his stuff in the kitchen cupboard, gets in, closes the door and he's off! I'm chuckling at the image of it. He does this almost all day long. I'm saying, "See ya later, love you too!" all day long, in return. Imagination is everything at his age. It's cute to play along.

In other news, Josh has a flat tire on his truck and my car needs something....like new brakes and a battery? I went to leave last night and tried to stop at the end of a hill (stop sign), and my brakes decided not to work...but they work any other time when I'm on flat ground. So, we're getting that fixed today. Yeah! No messing around with brake issues when there are kids in the car. Also, tonight we have a date. I'm excited. I'm hoping we can go see the new movie, The Change-Up, with Ryan Reynolds (HOT)!

Last, but not least, today is my nephew's birthday!! Zeke is 3 years old today. He is the first great grandchild in the Pike family and Daniel and Kristin are very proud parents. He is such a well behaved, sweet little boy and we love you very much! =) Hugs and kisses, Zeke!!

Tomorrow is Sunday, and I need to go to church! Want, is more the word, I want to go to church.

Peace,

Jamie

P.S. My digital camera is broken! This is a tragic event and I am hoping to get it repaired, somehow...until then-it will be pics I've already taken. =)