Saturday We Say Goodbye

Needing Something to Smile About

Ginny Smith

Please pray for my dear friend and our pastor's wife, Ginny. She is in critical condition in the hospital and the outlook is not good. She has been an amazing mentor for me through the past few years in our Titus 2 group for Pastor's Wives. She was so positive that things were turning around and that her cancer was on its way out.

Unfortunately, she fell ill again on her trip back east with Pastor Don.

Here is a link to her blog being updated by her daughter.

Baby Food Central

So, for my birthday this past week, my lovely mother (and dad too) got me a food processor! I am so excited. (At what point in my life did a food processor become exciting? Perhaps I'm aging.)

Anyway, I'm thrilled. E is getting ready to start trying some real food and I'm determined to make it. After I read about that baby food recall a few weeks back, I just thought... why not make it in my kitchen so I know what's going in her mouth.

I have been following this Babywise blog, and the author pointed out a book she loved in regards to making her own baby food. However, upon further review of this book, I've discovered that the medical community frowns on it because the author suggests feeding nuts to babies in addition to making some babyfoods (such as carrots) at home, even though the high nitrate content deems it unsafe to prepare at home for infants. This made me a bit nervous. The author had over 600 reviews on Amazon and most pointed out flaws in her suggestions for foods, but raved about her step-by-step

methods for cooking and preparing the baby food.

So, on to find something new. I saw at Williams-Sonoma (as recommended by my sister) that they have a baby food book called "Cooking for Baby". The reviews are great! It looks like it might be something of interest for me. Then, I saw these little gadgets (photo on right). They

are two ounce freezing trays for baby food with a sealable lid. Oooo.... love, love, love. I did get a giftcard for my birthday to the mall!

Now I know why when I was a kid and went shopping with my mum, she always bought stuff for her girls. I just want to spend my birthday money on E. Oh... and a new dress for me!

Any suggestions on homemade baby food recipes? Throw them my way please!

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And One Year Ago Tomorrow...

Skinny Jeans

Today is a good day.

I woke this morning and was getting dressed into my khakis that I wear to work and a cap sleeve sweater when Jeff asked why I was getting so dressed up if I didn't have to work today. It's true, I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl on my days off, but since baby came, I only have one pair of jeans that fit -new Gap jeans I bought in a size higher than I wore before baby. (Although those new jeans seem to be sagging a bit now.) I told him that nothing else fit, so I've been stuck with the same three pairs of pants for the last three months and none of my skirts sit right on my hips anymore. Such is life.

Then it hit me... when was the last time I tried on my old jeans? So, I hauled the box out of the closet. Sure enough... I'm in my skinny jeans again. It's a great day in the Jennings' household. 15 weeks later and I'm back to my regular clothes... well, pants anyway!

Grandma's Been Busy!

My mum is incredibly sweet. While expecting E I realized that I didn't have any burp cloths. I registered for a few and received none. Uh-oh. So I got a hold of Lindsey and asked her to make me some burp cloths from the patterns she uses for her tea towels. I have two gorgeous burp cloths. What a shame when she spits up on them. Loving Lindsey's creations, I bought some more cloth diapers and a bunch of fabric, gave them to my mum (since I can't even sew a button) and... like magic... burp cloths. I have two of each. So cute.

They are almost too pretty to spit up on.... well, almost.

Emergency Situation

Alright... normally I don't forward things, but this was really "moving." I saw this YouTube video that a friend sent me and it made my day. The owner has taken off the embed feature so I can't stick this in my blog. You'll have to use the link.

I can't wait to hear your comments. Especially you, Crysti! Ha!

Estate Sale Gem!

It's quite funny, but Jeff and I have NEVER bought a kitchen table since we've been married, but we've sold quite a few. Odd, I know. When we were married, we had an IKEA kitchen table purchased by my dad when I first moved out. It was WAY small - barely fit 4 people, but we actually had 8 around it at one point. We sold that on Craigslist when we moved to Biola and got a new maple coloured table and chairs from someone for free. Can't remember who anymore actually. Took that table with us to our Biola housing. Chairs were uncomfortable. Sold it for $50 when we moved in with my parents for a few months. Our next condo came furnished. When we moved, the owner was selling the place and gave us the kitchen table with swivel chairs. Chairs were REALLY uncomfortable, but the table is solid and opens up to a perfect square which easily seats 8. So we took it. The chairs have been slowly breaking one by one. Literally falling apart. When I was pregnant, I wouldn't sit on them for fear they might snap. This is the last remaining chair:

So last weekend, I went to an estate sale and got the deal of the year! Six solid wood dining chairs for $35.00. Well done, Robin! Here are my new chairs before Jeff cleaned them all and brought them in the house. Best of all... they are SO comfy. Yay! They don't match the table but I've asked for a new table cloth for my birthday. Hopefully that will do the trick!

Strength Finders Test

So I had to take a Strength Finders test online for a work seminar we are doing. Easy enough. This is to help you discover the areas you are best in and to improve upon them. The book actually disputes the idea that "if you put your mind to something, you will succeed." It just says, "You won't." Hmmm... I'm three chapters in. Should be interesting.

However, after a 40 minute online test the results were: I'm a continual learner who is focused, organized and an over-achiever.

Duh.

That's why I went to school for way to long and still think about going back from time to time, why I live by to-do lists, and why I read blogs like Unclutterer and would live in the Container Store if it was legal. The over-achiever part... I'm a firstborn.

Should be an interesting discussion group tomorrow.

Doggy Day Camp

So today I have to set up an interview... for my dog. Finn needs to go to Doggy Day Camp next week because Jeff, E, and I are going to Forest Home with the high school students I work with. It's a three day retreat, but we are going for just one night. E's never slept away from home, so hopefully it goes well!

That leaves us with the issue of Finn. Normally, my parents watch him as he is in love with their dog Bella. However, my sisters have all crashed there and brought two boxers with them... so there is a pack there already and we don't need to contribute yet another... especially since Finn doesn't get on with the boxers.

So for this interview at the camp, Finn has to be observed for 3 hours to see if he is social. Oh, boy. What do you do if your dog fails a sociability test? Ouch. I'm going to try to take him for this test Friday morning.

I'll let you know if he flunks out. Ha!