Jude at 8 months

Time sure does fly and here we are at 8 months.  Only 4 more months and you will already be a year old, my little monkey.

Jude at 8 months:

- weighs ___

- is ___inches tall.

- still wears size 4 diapers.

- wears size 12 month clothing.

- is crawling everywhere.  Just started a week before he turned 8 months.

- is standing up and pulls himself up onto any piece of furniture he can (he just decided to do this today--on his 8 months birthday).

- Has become a vacume and puts absolutely everything and anything in his mouth.  He is really going after the little lint pieces on the carpet--yuck!

- Started swimming lessons and loves them.
 
- Is obsessed with the stairs---that is the only place you want to crawl.  You have even fallen down them, because you go too fast and mommy can't keep up.

- Loves to give kisses.  It is so sweet and cute.

- You are such a cuddle bug.  You love to cuddle and snuggle and I LOVE it!

- You still eat a tonne.  You are moving away from the mushy food though and really like to eat finger foods all by yourself.

- Love playing with your brother and sister.

- Have become quite vocal and will go after your brother and sister crying when they take away your toys. They are lucky you don't have any teeth yet.

- Love to be outside and in the trampoline, especially.

- Love puppies!

- Still do not sleep through the night and I am exhausted!

- Naps twice a day.

1000 Gifts

These past few weeks have been one heck of a Roller Coaster. I am still trying to process and deal with all that has went on. I can't talk or even write about it as I would not have very 'Christian' or Christ centered words to say. Never have I been so angry, so hurt, so completely and utterly done. However, I will still count. I know that we live in such a broken, sinful, fallen world and the only one that truly understands what I am going through is HIM. As I reflect on the extreme sacrifice He made for my pathetic, sinful life, I am so grateful and humbled. I am also comforted because He knows, He gets it, He understands.

There is a lot of healing that will need to take place, mainly me having to hand it over to Him and trust Him and know that He does vindicate. I have heard it so much these past few weeks, "oh God has big things planned for you guys, just hang in there". Seriously I don't want 'big' things, I just want 'any' thing, 'some' thing, and yes preferably 'His' thing.

273. Celebrating 7 years and anticipating many more to come!

274. Busy bag exchange. I now have 20 busy bags to keep my kids entertained---love them, thanks ladies!

275. Getting passports pictures taken. We were in and out within 10 min. --- not even. We only had to take 3 pictures of Jude--yay!

276. Letting the kids run wild in the mall on a cold day (yes people were thinking that we just let them run wild, but they needed to release some pent up energy--so whatever)

277. Sweet Potatoe Sushi---soo delicious!

278. Friends that keep in touch and always make the effort to call us even when we live far apart.

279. Rocky Mountain Soap Company and their Breakout buster! Our friends in the east called and asked us to send them some. We had to try it and it works awesome!

280. Bill delivering more stuff for us!

281. Talks with my boy, I love that he is so open and honest with me.

282. Last day of school in an incredibly long week.

283. Praying for and with friends going through a difficult situation.

284. Jolly Jumper!
 


285. Watching my kids 'pretend' to play, sing and dance to their own worship music.

286. Lazy mornings and days at home.

287. Running errands quickly.

288. The hunger and desire the Youth have to hear truth.

289. Seeing how God is working.

290. Trying new foods at a European deli.

291. That our kids love to try worldly, ethnic dishes and share our love of travel (or pretending to travel).

292. 2 parks to play and explore.

293. Watching my kids play 'church'.

294. Knowing that God cares and loves me, when I really, truly need to know and hear this most.

295. Lunch with my beautiful family.

296. A much needed 3 hour nap (yes I put the older two in front of the computer with a movie).

297. Words of wisdom, and encouragement from my hubby.

298. Friends that watched our kids for us when we desperately needed someone to watch them.

299. Leaving my baby for the first time---we all survived! :o)

300. An interesting interview and knowing that whether or not we get the position, we are learning so much and God is revealing things that we really needed to hear and see.

301. Supper with friends.

302. Interesting phone conversations.

303. He knows our hearts.

304. Timely conversations and the assurance that there are people that know truth.

305. An involved Daddy who is there for his kids and volunteers at school.

306. His excitement over gymnastics.

307. Parent/teacher interviews and knowing that we are so blessed that he has such an amazing teacher who gets him and sees what an amazing heart he has. She is so focused on the heart---love that!

308. Seeing how far he has come and how much progress he has made.

309. Supper and fellowship with some new friends who are going through exactly what we are. It is so amazing how God puts these people in our lives in such a timely fashion!

310. Sleeping in---it is so rare in this household.

311. Incredibly blessed to have friends that pray for us, with us and that truly care about us.

312. Knowing that He is big enough to handle my yelling, screaming, tears and pure frustration.

313. Watching my kids play together (without fighting).

314. Celebrating a 2 year old's birthday.

315. Seeing them play with their friends.

316. A week off from school.

317. Playing soccer in the park.

318. Feeling blessed that I am physically able to play with my kids, run, jump, etc.

319. Racing them---they are so competitive ( I wonder where they get that from)!

320. Talking to good friends and allowing myself to just cry and let it all out.

321. Resurrection buns and discussing what the ingredients signify.

322. Making Easter cookies.

323. Watching my boys play swords.

324. German deli's and a picnic lunch.

325. Driving to the mountains to get away.

326. That the most beautiful scenery is only an hour away.

327. Family pictures.

328. The trading post.

329. New trinkets at the trading post and thinking why the heck did we buy them that seconds later. (we bought them wooden flutes--and guess what they did the entire way home)

330. HE IS ALIVE!!!!

331. Amazing, heartfelt, worship music.

332. Letting the tears fall and knowing that He really is for us.

333. Exploring China-town.

334. Eating an amazing lunch.

335. That they are so willing and eager to try new foods.

336. Questions - on some of the most difficult topics (my 5 year old has been asking these amazing, difficult, spiritual questions---I feel like he has such an old soul and I am not ready to discuss some of these things with him).

337. Hearing them chat away with Grandma on the phone (they miss Grandma).

338. The 'rubber' park.

339. Watching my social butterflies make new friends at the park and have them introduce me to them!

340. Attempting to go 'poo' less.

241. Long phone conversations with a good friend and the openness and willingness to share really deep, personal things. Once again we are blessed.

342. Seeing how excited he was to go back to school.

343. Getting our routine back.

344. My little workout partner.

345. Schedules.

346. Long talks with my husband.

347. Clean bathrooms.

348. Yummy suppers and leftovers to freeze for two more meals.

349. Playing at the park.

350. Watching brothers play together.

351. Bill dropping off stuff for us yet again.

352. Easter treats, books and games.

353. My Loretta doll.

354. Play dates---that were spontaneous.

355. These 2 playing 'family' all day long.

356. Watching God tube with my kids and having some great conversations.

357. His questions, which had me and him laughing uncontrollably. I didn't really know how to respond, so I made him ask Daddy the next morning---after we shared a great laugh. (His question was 'why did God created us?' .....innocent enough, but then he asks 'and why did he make our wee wee's?'----didn't quite know how to handle that one).

358. Cuddles with my sick girl.

359. That we have a washer and dryer, especially when there is a sick little one.

360. Daddy sleeping with his girl when she is sick and seeing how excited she was.

361. A day of rest--truly what it is supposed to be.

362. Going for a drive.

363. Homeoprophylaxis.

364. Xerion (thanks Heather for the recommendation--they have been fantastic)

365. New deli's and bakeries (yes we like to try different deli's and bakeries)

366. German doughnuts---best doughnut I have ever had!

367. Talking on the phone with my cousin.

368. A better sleep.

369. Good, new recipes.

370. Seeing him crawl everywhere.

371. 'New to us' furniture---some of it free.

372. Reading 'history' books with my boy and being completely amazed that he picked it out from the library and sat and listened (it doesn't really have pictures).

373. A new reading plan from his school.

374. Cuddling my sick baby boy.

375. Seeing how worried his siblings get when they see that their baby brother is sick.

376. Watching them pray for him.

377. Listening to my 5 year old's long prayers (and them breaking my heart).

378. Play dates and seeing how well they get along and play together.

379. That my husband is so amazingly, awesome with kids and gets right on the trampoline and just plays with them.

380. Fellow-shipping with the mamas.

381. Knowing how blessed I am that i have such an amazing husband to parent with and that I am not alone.

382. Beautiful twin girls and seeing how God is working in their family's lives.

383. That he is not afraid to stand up for God's word, the truth, the bread, the foundation of our lives.

384. Finishing our taxes finally (it was my first year doing it by myself--or with the help of Turbo tax).

385. Planning meals.

386. That we can afford to go grocery shopping and stock our fridge and freezer, when so many have nothing.

Jude at 7 months..

My baby boy is growing. John and I were just talking the other night at how much he has grown and even though he will always be 'the baby', he has changed so much and is becoming so independent and 'grown' up. I think it will really hit us when he starts walking.

Jude at 7 months:

- weighs

- is __ tall

- wears size 4 diapers.

- wears size 12 month clothing. (Yes I had to put away the 6 month stuff).

- Is an eating machine. I can not believe how much this kid eats! Three meals a day, not to mention the snacks and the milkies!

- Has tried all sorts of food (apples, bananas, apricots, peaches, mango, pears, prunes, dates, beans, peas, avocado, carrots, sweet potaotes, chicken noodle soup, mum mum crackers, bread and cereal) . I had to look back at what my other two preferred, Zech loved his fruit and Gigi loved her veggies. Jude just loves food, he really has no preference. He will make funny faces at certain foods, but he just keeps eating.

- Is by far my messiest eater. I can not believe how messy he is!

- Loves the Jolly Jumper.

- Army crawls, does the bridge backward crawl (weirdest thing I have seen yet---I need to get a video of it) and rolls everywhere.

- Loves to sit up and has sit up on his own a few times now.

- Has some favourite toys.......his stuffed bear, books, his star teether,

- Has two naps, one in the morning at around 10:00 am and then after lunch.

- Does not sleep through the night--he's a horrible sleeper. I am up at least 5 times a night with him.

- Still such a happy, content, smiley, little boy.

Stuffed Zucchini

I had to share this recipe that I got from pinterest...yes I know another one from pinterest.
However, I really tweaked it and loved how it turned out. So I will share my version of it:

Vanessa's Mexican Stuffed Zucchini

* Here is the original recipe

Now this is my version.

3 of the biggest zucchini's I could find (there are no large ones at the Supermarket)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 green pepper, finely chopped
2 T finely minced fresh garlic
1.5 lbs. ground bison
1 398 ml can of Earthpure Organic Tomato Sauce
1 cup of Salsa
2 cups low-fat mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Chop onion and green pepper. Brown ground bison and add chopped onion and green pepper. Add minced garlic. Cook until meat is completely browned.

Add the tomato Sauce and Salsa and bring to a simmer and then turn off heat.

While meat cools, cut zucchini into 2 inch thick slices, discarding ends. Use a sharp spoon or melon baller to hollow out a cup in each zucchini slice, leaving just over 1/4 inch of zucchini flesh. Be careful not to get too close to the skin or the cups will leak liquid when they cook.

Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray and stand up zucchini cups, open end up.

Stir 1 1/2 cups grated cheese into the cooled meat mixture (it doesn't need to be completely cool), then spoon the meat-cheese mixture into zucchini cups, pressing down with the spoon and mounding it up a little over the top of the zucchini.

Bake zucchini cups for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and use remaining cheese to top each one with a generous pinch of cheese. Put back in oven and bake 10-15 minutes more, until zucchini is slightly soft when pierced with a fork and cheese is melted and lightly browned. Serve hot.

** I had a lot of the meat mixture left over as my zucchini's were quite small. I froze it and will make again.


Yes I know, I suck at taking good food pictures! Ha, I didn't realize how blurry these were, but trust me, it tastes better than it looks!

1000 Gifts

On and on and on I count.

218. Star of the Day and his great adventure as Captain Gooch.

219. Groceries and that He provides abundantly for us.

220. All 5 of us cuddling in bed, chatting away.

221. The start of a new study for some young impressionable kids.

222. Exploring new areas.

223. Knowing that it is only God that can move and work in peoples hearts.

224. Our first Gooch family movie theater day. We saw The Lorax.

225. Thai food.

226. New playgrounds.



227. Packing a 'picnic snack' to enjoy at the playground.

228. Testimony night.

229. A new cell phone for moi.

230. Bill - our messenger and delivery person.

231. Making casseroles for a woman who needs them.

232. That he is home from the hospital (still no idea what is wrong, but it is nothing like we feared, please pray)

233. Lazy Days.

234. New Parks and running races with my kids!

235. A day off of school.

236. My husband who can fix vehicles (saves us a tonne of money--especially lately).

237. Finally finishing all 5 busy bags, which meant 20 in total since there are 4 of us participating. (can't wait for the swap)

238. Stuffed Zucchini!


239. Going for a run---even if it was crazy at least I got out!

240. Having a nap--so rare!

241. Cleaning, sorting and purging!

242. Playing outside in the gorgeous weather.

243. Finally something, extremely important that I have been looking for! (for a long time at that)

244. Reading his Action hero Bible with him---just the two of us!

245. Singing songs before bed with them (their favourite 'Jesus loves the little Children', but I put each one of our names in the song, instead of saying children---they LOVE it).

246. Ann's words, as usual she inspires, challenges, and just makes me tear all up!

247. Getting a call for an interview.

248. St. Patty's day parties, crafts and activities at school.

249. Daddy/son day in Banff (they went mountain bike riding, ate Sushi, stopped at the candy shop, and had ice-cream).

250. Letting her pick out nail polish.

251. Going for a nice walk.

252. Chatting with a good friend and hearing her words of encouragement.

253. Special time with her. Since it is too hard to take her out for a special princess day with Jude in tow, I pampered her at home. She did not want to take her feet out of the foot bath. I painted her toes and fingers. I gave her a foot scrub and sprayed special foot refreshing spray on, but she just wanted to leave her feet in that tub all day long. (as you can see Jude liked the foot bath too)!

254. Sleeping in.

255. My hubby who goes out late to buy me advil.

256. Zech and Gigi playing outside all morning long.

257. Catching up on some emails and paper work that was long over do.

258. Our little evangelist who is so concerned that 'everyone' know Jesus (he asked our neighbour if he knew Jesus--what a kid).

259. Catching up on some blog writing.

260. Coming upstairs to see that my 5 year old still had his light on and seeing that he fell asleep reading his Bible. (pretty cool to see your child fall asleep literally in the Word--:o)

261. Late night texts to see why he is not home from work yet and getting the response that he is ministering and witnessing to some really needy kids. Lots of kids were asking really deep questions, sharing deep hurts, really opening up. We have been praying so much for this!

262. Making ju-jube creations.

263. Baking soda, vinegar, and food colouring and the entertainment it provides.



264. Going to Fort Calgary.



265. Exploring new places we have had yet to see.

266. Eating out....celebrating early.

267. The pirate pack and the entertainment it provides. Forget the food, I should just buy them the boat.

268. A morning all to myself and my baby.

269. Taking a nap and cuddling him after a long night, when both of us have been really under the weather.

270. Reflecting on 7 years.

271. Talking with my sister on the phone.

272. Telling him my struggles, my fears, my worries. What would I do without my amazing husband whom I can share this with.

Celebrating 7 years

My amazing husband and I are celebrating seven years today. Wow, what an amazing seven years it has been! I am truly blessed beyond words. God sure knew what He was doing when he brought John into my life.

- I take my husband for granted far too often, he gets the brunt of my grumpiness, he puts up with my argumentativeness and my stubbornness when I am letting my pride get the best of me.

- He listens to me, he hears my rants, my desperation, my feelings of complete and utter frustration and exasperation when I just can't go on. He encourages me.

- He tells me what my gifts are, as I feel like God forgot about me in that area.

7

- He inspires me, in so many ways, but especially in his desire to speak the truth always and to live for God and God alone no matter what people say or think. I really struggle with that!

- He tells me I am beautiful, even when I am struggling so bad with losing all of the pregnancy weight and feel like a big fat blob.

- He gives me hugs when I need them most.

- He prays with me, and for me and for our kids.



- He prays for our enemies.

- He fights for me, sticks up for me, he honours me and he loves me!

- He parents with me, supports me and helps me out so incredibly much!

- He buys me Rolo ice-cream (which doesn't help with the weight loss, but it's the thought).

- We both desire the same things in life.

- He is such an amazing Dad to our three kids, which really makes me love him that much more.

- I think he is the sexiest man alive and I am not afraid to say that (he will blush at this).




I know that my list could go on....

Happy Seven Years my love. I am so honoured to be spending my 'happy ever after' with you.



**Please keep us, especially John in prayer today. True love means that we will be spending our anniversary apart as he has a big interview with a prospective church tonight over the phone. He has already made the short list. They will be interviewing the four people on the short list today and tomorrow and by the end of this week they will determine who they want to come and candidate. We also have another interview in a week from now--which both of us have to be at. It's in God's hands, we know that and we trust in that. Where ever He wants us, is where we will be.

Recipes to Share

I know I have said this here before, but I do really love pinterest! I have been making some 'freezer' meals and needed some ideas, so off to pinterest I went. I had to make a few casseroles for a young, single mom of 5. Her son is in Zech's class and she just had twin girls (not to mention her 13 year old and 2 year old she also has). It is a pretty difficult situation, she is alone, lots of 'issues', but she needs help. So I got busy and made some meals. I also had to make some vegetarian meals as her son doesn't like meat.

So I thought I would share what I made:

1. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

This was super easy to make and looked awesome. I didn't make enough for us, but will definitely try it. So I can't really tell you what it tasted like, but it looked good, smelled good and was very easy to make.

2. Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

I didn't mind this one. I think I would have preferred my broccoli a little crunchier, which was totally my fault. If would have been better if I hadn't cooked the broccoli as much as I did. Still good though.

3. Tuna Casserole

LOVED this one. I think that this is by far one of the best Tuna Casseroles I have ever had (and I have tried a few). I didn't have mushrooms on hand (plus my kids don't like them), so I never put them in, but I did put corn instead. Definitely one I will make again.

4. Kalyn's Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

I have made this one and frozen a few for us. I haven't actually tried it yet, but a good friend made it and said it was awesome. It was another one that looked and smelled good and was pretty easy to make. I will let you know when we try it!


* All photos are from the linked recipe sites