all my children's books!! they're out. they're shelved. they're ready. i knew they'd come in handy someday. some of these i don't know if we'll actually use for daily reading, but they're fun to look at. i mean, how great is the title manners don't come naturally? hilarious. but seriously, that's true.

goodnight moon, on the other hand. i truly would read that one every day.

so, this is the only part of the baby's room that's really babied-up so far, but i already love it.



speaking of books... my penpal marta just sent me this darling copy of mother goose classics. it came in a care package full of little luxuries for this bigger-by-the-day pregnant girl. among the goodies i found dark chocolate truffles, a calendar from dutch door press to count down the days (already framed, by the way), and a few snackies for eating for two. she called it my "lady in waiting" package. oh my. some people think of everything, and beyond. the sweetness just blows me away. mart, you are wonderful. i thank you. and baby harmsie thanks you, too.

i watch the oscars. it's my annual splurge on a night of sparkly tv with short-lived significance. it's fun to feel like you really do have celebrity faves, and everyone in hollywood is friends in real life.. for one night. it's fun to comment on so and so's hair, like you really care. yep. that's my idea of fun.

and just so you know, i'm having popcorn with my oscars. have we forgotten about making popcorn? on the stove? it is super easy and exciting. i don't know if my kids will know about microwave popcorn, because i can't wait to show them this. have we forgotten how amazing it smells? fresh. have we forgotten what movie theatre taste is like, minus the yellow butter-mimicking fluid they let you pump out of a fountain? did you know that movie theatres used to use coconut oil to give popcorn it's signature flavor? lovely, good-for-you coconut oil! a healthy fat. hooray. try this real old-fashioned popcorn, my friends. your tongue will remember the true taste. it's perfect.



real old-fashioned popcorn

3 T. coconut oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
sea salt, to taste

if you don't have a whirly-pop, don't worry! i don't either. i used a 6-qt. stainless steel pot with a lid. 
fyi, this pairs well with apple slices and m&ms.

1. add coconut oil to your pot and let heat up for a few minutes over medium heat. add 3 popcorn kernels. don't put the lid on yet.
2. when the oil is hot enough, the "tester" kernels will pop. after this happens, add the 1/2 cup kernels, put the lid on, and immediately start moving your pot around the burner. slide pan vigorously back and forth on the stove to keep the kernels moving and turning, and continue as you hear them start popping.
3. when the popping starts to slow down, turn off the heat and keep moving the pot. once the popping has slowed even more, remove from stove. air on the side of not getting all the kernels popped, rather than burning the ones that are ready. sprinkle with plenty of sea salt and pour popcorn into bowls.

happy friday, friends. have some popcorn on me. 
you know where i'll be sunday night, if you care to join the fun. 

is what one of my preschoolers told me when he handed me this, this morning.

he says we're going bowling.
but he doesn't know when his birthday is.
he's going to ask his mom.

hey, next time you need an idea for a party invite, just remember this red-blue-purple man with no neck.

usually when i pack a lunch for school it's a sandwich or leftovers from dinner, but today i had the makings for this. sounds pretty simple, because it is. and simple things are usually the best things.



the "salsa dressing" is just a teaspoon or so of sour cream whipped into my favorite salsa. so good.

what are you having for lunch today? any simple ideas to share? 

wait.
15?

15 weeks left? are you sure? 15 doesn't seem like a very big number. that means only 15 more laundry mondays. (actually 14 now.) only 15 more long, grant has grad school wednesdays. only 15 more thursday nights with our favorite nbc shows. and 15 more sunday dinners followed by sunday naps. 15 until my life changes forever. i don't care if that means no more sleeping in.. 15 until the baby is here!

it really is getting closer! and did you catch that? i'm only going to do laundry like 14 more times before i'm somebody's mom! woohoo. glad you guys are here to count down with me:) you make things extra fun.

meanwhile, things are humming along here. am starting to wish i had a pillow to sneak in between my knees at night. and i've still got mad burps and am lacking the skills to belch them out like a boy. somebody please teach me how to do a real burp instead of this gurgling stuff, please! and, i ran across this little snippet from my 18th week, i wrote it the day we had the ultrasound:

want to see the video grant made with footage from our disney trip? there's a 20-weeks pregnant me in it.. :) like the song? it's "jungle animal" by pomplamoose. (on itunes too!) they are my fave.


watch it bigger and better HERE

things to look for!!
me reading pride & prejudice on the plane
hanging pumpkins at epcot
my fake excitement during soarin'
me, sitting out for the babes:)
grant cracking his back on the floor outside soarin'
cartoon versions of us
chelsea's close up
grant's superman arm on the roller coasters
haley (my twin) screaming on the tower of terror
3D glasses on the baby
the same aladdin actor who was there 5 years ago
birds that hang out by the rocking chairs
me being excited about the yummy corndogs... even though i never ate one
billy mitchell's king of kong arcade at the airport!
(and if you don't know how awesome this is, you must see "the king of kong." best documentary ever.)

and to listen for!
grant's funny yell on expedition everest
the beast's awkward roar during the beauty & the beast live show (we laugh every time)
my "i'm talking to an animal" voice
me, being excited that billy mitchell was there

what do you do on a weekend in february, in a small town, with a snowstorm & a baby on the way?

you head to the gym. (thank goodness we have one of these in town.)
you take your book to the treadmill with you, because it's hard to put down.
you make grilled cheese and tomato soup.
you and your husband fall asleep on the couch watching a documentary on kim jong il.
it's only 8:30 pm. (but really, you liked the documentary.)
you get up, take your fish oil, and go to bed, because grown ups can do that. and they like it.
you take a shower before you do anything else on saturday, otherwise it won't get done.
you feel great that you got that out of the way!
you think showering is not what it was (or as important as it was) in high school.
you eat this granola with banana slices.... mmmmm. you need seconds.
you make a baby wish list on amazon! yaaaaaay!! best way ever to register.
{remember: you live in a small town, and places to shop are rather limited.}
you pick out a baby monitor, and hope for the best. you throw in some good diaper detergent, too.
you take your car in for an oil change.
you visit the car wash and the antique store. you love saturday errands with grant. 


you get a darling lamp for $5 and two big mirrors with potential.
you go back to the treadmill.
you come home and have a banana.
you get yourself upstairs, turn on some music, and clean out your closet!
you get rid of a garbage bag full of... garbage. sorry, old clothes.
you make room for some maternity clothes you bought online. yay for yoga pants!
you cut the back of grant's hair. he looks good.
you spend the night researching cloth diapers and car seats.
you wake up at 6:30 sunday morning and it's thundering and lightning... and snowing.
you can't fall back to sleep. neither can your husband, so it's fun.
you get blizzarded, and church gets cancelled.
you make sunday dinner anyway.
you use your cast iron pan and those organic baby carrots that taste sweet as candy.


you study the snowflakes falling. they get big and fluffy and slow, and then small, sparkly and fast. 
you eat part of the dark chocolate bar that was supposed to be for baking.
you hug grant a lot. you're happy you live with him.
you help him put the finishing touches on your vacation video. (come back tomorrow to see it!)
you thought the oscars were going to be happening.
you make popcorn anyway. 
you take your tummy photo for the baby series.
you blog while grant snowblows the driveway. 
you get the call that school is 2 hours late tomorrow!!
you had an awesome weekend. 

sometimes it's just nice to be able to look back and know exactly what was going on :)

not too many yet, but one is enough for me to be beside myself. so, i washed this onesie with our grown-up clothes on monday. (my first load of laundry to include baby items. very exciting.) and when i came across it in the pile of to-be-folded items, i stopped still.


i tried to imagine the weight it will have once a baby gets inside. it must be a pretty incredible feeling to hold up your own baby, if i get goosebumps just dreaming it. i've been reading that the first moments after your baby is born- when you see each other face to face- are magic. they call it falling in love. boy, do i believe it. do you sweet mommies out there have love at first sight memories with your little ones? oh i hope so. meanwhile, i have a few more months to go. i will have fun trying to stay calm as i wait for my turn to be starry-eyed and swept off my feet. and i will have fun figuring out how to fold clothes this small. and learning what it means to be someone's life source. and most of all, i will have fun dreaming of folding my own up in my arms.

ps. the little stars are gender-neutral enough, right? we thought so.

room for one more granola recipe? i usually don't sway from the best granola on earth, but this stuff is really good. i can't stop eating it. (in fact, i'm having a bowl right now.) i've been itching to make up my own new mix since i've seen so many good-looking granolas floating in the blogs lately. but i wanted something tailored to me. so here i am. throwing my hat in the ring of granola recipes.


this mix is healthier than it's more dessert-like counterpart in my recipe archives. it's lightly sweetened with honey, swaps out vegetable oil for nourishing coconut oil, and has real peanut butter in it! once baked, the pb taste isn't overly strong, it just gives a nice nutty-salty vibe. it still has plenty of cinnamon, which for me, is what unites all the granola parts to a whole. i'm finding it's perf when i have a craving for something sweet, but not too sweet, at night. you can eat it straight up, by the handful, definitely. with yogurt and bananas, too. or in milk, with some raisins sprinkled in- and you have a bowl of pb & j.



peanut butter & honey granola

4 cups rolled oats*
3 T. ground flax seed
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1 cup shredded coconut
1-2 T. cinnamon (depending on how much you like it)
1/2 tsp. salt (scant)
1 T. vanilla
3 T. extra virgin coconut oil
3/4 cup real peanut butter
1/3 cup honey

preheat oven to 300. mix first 7 ingredients in a large bowl. melt together coconut oil, peanut butter, and honey over med-low heat until smooth and runny, stirring constantly. pour pb mixture over oat mixture and stir well to combine. spread onto a jelly roll pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until golden and dry, stirring every 15-20 minutes.

*i actually used 3 cups rolled oats and 1 cup of unsweetened shredded oat cereal, because i was looking for a way to use it up. next time, i'll just use oats.

mmmmmmm. mm.

ps. did you see my "action" photo?! i'm so excited:)

happy valentine's day, friends! here's what i'm loving this valentine's.

1. grant, of course. the stunningly handsome guy who takes care of me.
2. the babes. under this tight-as-a-drum tummy lives a miniature grant & me.. wow. for real?
3. sunshine!! ahhhhh. it nearly blinded me as i got breakfast this morning.
4. a forecast of 40 DEGREES today. madness! very good madness.
5. basketball season just ended. no more waking up at 5:30 for grant. yaaaay!
6. my chiropractor. love her.
7. this pregnancy. the gym. my vitamins. my cold going away. my pilates dvd (ok, i'm hooked).
8. snack time. sandwiches. peanut butter. eggs. fruit. yogurt. chocolate chip cookies.
9. an affair to remember and sleepless in seattle. you just have to.
10. the black lab puppy that lives across the street.
11. the new little yellow lamp in our living room. thrifted last friday.
12.  good, informative, sensible books about birth.
13. amazon prime!! free 2-day shipping all the time. i could go crazy.
13.5 it's currently free for one year for students, so check it out if you qualify!
14. "a daily portion is all that a man really wants." amen! thank you for daily provision, Lord!
15. the promise of seeing my valentine at 4 o'clock today. and everyday. forever.

play with me! what - or who - are you loving today? 




so grant and i love each other.
we also love pizza.
and watching movies.
and rootbeer. henry weinhard's is our brew of choice.
so we put them all together on valentine's day.


head over here to get the recipe for our valentine's day tradition. 
yum. this pizza is seriously my favorite. don't pizza and valentine's just go together? i say yes.

i'm so sorry guys... i left the sugar out of the scones recipe!!! oh no! but it's fixed now... hopefully I didn't ruin your orange scone experience.

forgive me.
love,
summer

ran across this elisabeth elliot prayer/quote while reading today and wanted to stick it somewhere.
i usually remember things better if i've posted about them. hopefully i'll remember this. happy thurs!

sometimes peanut butter and jelly can't be beat. 
a lot of the time, actually.

today i liked...
grant's school being 2 hours late.
having pb & j. twice.
spending extra time reading and making notes.
doing pilates and the treadmill.
talking to mom on the phone while she bought one-size-up shirts for me.
a ponytail.
writing up a recipe.
spotting this awesome bag via simplesong. maybe i could swing this as a diaper bag..
emailing my little sister.
browsing old blog posts. like this one.
thinking about spring.
figuring out how to use my phone, even with the broken screen.
being at home.
shopping old navy's online maternity sale.
reading your sweet comments.
using my pink dishes. valentine's day is so close.. are you ready?

dear baby

this morning i had a half-waking dream that you were waiting for me to come pick you up and hold you. you missed me. i can't stop thinking about it. i can't wait until it's real. in the dream, you wanted to see my face. have i told you how much i want to see yours?

we went to a check-up for you last friday and got all good news. yay! mommy's weight and blood pressure and tummy measurements were great, and you are great. this time, we found your itty bitty beating heart faster than ever. as soon as the gel hit my stomach- there you were. hearing your heartbeat is my favorite part.

and guess what? i can feel you.

your first flips and kicks came one morning when i was laying in bed, thinking about getting up for the day. i felt a wave under my skin and immediately knew this strange feeling must be from you. i waited for another ripple, just to make sure that i wasn't imagining things. it came. it was you! it was a thing too wonderful. i turned over to my side to see if you would follow me, and sure enough, you did. seconds later, i was reaching for the ipad on the nightstand to send your dad the good news. i was wild with excitement. ever since that morning, your fluttering has become more and more familiar, but it hasn't lost any of the magic. your dad happened to have his hand on my stomach when you gave us your strongest kick yet. way to go! we were sufficiently impressed and proud.

sometimes i lay down just to see if you'll flip for me. it makes me so happy to feel that surge under my skin and know that you are real. in fact, you are moving right now as i type this. do you know that i'm writing to you? the other night your dad and i were watching the shawshank redemption (one of our favorites) and before i knew it, he had fallen asleep and you had woken up. there i was on the living room floor, laughing at every flutter you gave. we were the only two that got the joke. it really does feel funny. and miraculous.

there are loads of sweet people that are waiting for you here. everybody's excited for june. your grandma renee sent you some classical music in the mail, which your mommy loves. i'm just amazed to think that you can hear it, too! i think you'll like it for naptime. and your grandma judy is giving you a super cool vintage tub, and her yummy roast beef, carrots, and potatoes at sunday dinner. i make sure to take seconds. you know, for you.

the baby book phase has hit your mom hard this week. i can't get enough information about you and what you're up to. i wish there was a window in my tummy so i could at least check in on you from time to time. i think the library books are doing the trick, though. the more i read, the more i'm pulled into the reality of you being, growing, and eventually coming. i think this information hunger is really stemming from me wanting to feel close to you. i know it sounds cliche, but i have this huge desire to bond with you. i'm craving it. 

a few weeks ago i unplugged the miniature christmas tree by my kitchen sink. as i was taking it down to the basement, i realized that the next time i plug it in, you'll be here. in the house with me! wow. i wonder what we'll do? i've been thinking about what kind of a mom i will be- what i want to be. i want you to know that i'm already praying hard about this. i'm praying that you will have a selfless, gentle, and wise mom.

your dad played drums in church last week. i wonder if you heard him. he's amazing. i can't wait to see you two together.

loves,
your mom

ps. i can see your profile in your ultrasound pictures... you are already more adorable than i dreamed.

okay. now i'm officially excited about the baby's room.

and it's thanks to these fantastic animals-in-suits prints from berkeley illustration. wow. aren't they darling. check out their etsy shop sometime. there's so many more! i have no idea how we're going to decide, but we're definitely getting some of these sophisticated creatures. i love them already! i expect the baby will think they're swell:)

found via alison.

1. the humidifier wins best purchase of the whole winter. the best. 

2. just placed holds on 3 books at my library. i love library-ing from home. 

3. by the 3rd snow day, you better have something to show for it. so, my shower is clean:)

4. the other day i turned off my music, shut all the blinds, and put in a workout dvd. 

5. it was my first time. i felt funny, even in front of no one. and i loved it! 

6. now i am sore. from a dvd. 

7. took everything out of my lazy susan to wipe the shelves. because we have company coming.

8. i am crazy.

9. to my wife. clever, clever. i'm a fan. 

10. can i be that girl in the coffee shop? book in my face, mug in my hand, and no concept of time? 

11. forever 21 has maternity. yessss.

12. the movies up for "best picture" this year are real movies. like, ones i actually enjoy!

13. i'm averaging 9 hours of sleep. everybody should be doing this. 

14. grant says we are going to kiss in front of the baby. i love that. and him. 

15. orange scones, baby. i'm bringing them back. 

16. am in the mood to frame cool things and hang them on our walls. 

17. bryant and hannah are coming to our house tomorrow!! 

18. loving my sister in law's handmade soap. in the shower. at the kitchen sink. everywhere.

19. next thrift: soap dishes (i'm thinking vintage saucers) and a little lamp. 

20. i could really go for some good dark chocolate. tell me your fave! (preferably with little sugar)

21. shawshank redemption twice in one weekend. dream come true. 

22. it's really hard to go a whole day without crossing my legs. but i'm going to keep trying. 

23. i know what i'm making grant for valentine's. it's a secret. (but i'll take a picture once i bake it.)

24. i tried the grilled pb & j. good, but mostly it just made me want grilled cheese.

25. so guess what i had for dinner last night.? yep. swiss + monterey jack on homemade bread. mmm. 

ps. i'm sorry guys.. i had to re-do this post and lost all of your lovely comments!! please know that i read them and loved them:)