Overdue...

Yesterday was supposed to be Nemo's birthday, but apparently we have a son who's already rebellious! We can have until October 13th before we have to be induced, so there's plenty of time left for Nemo to decide he wants to come on his own. We're hoping sooner rather than later but it's pretty much up to him! To celebrate what should have been his birthday, I wanted to post all our pregnancy pictures. We took one picture a month, except for month 1, when we were probably still in shock so we didn't get a picture taken. =) Hopefully next time I update this blog it will be because Nemo has been born!!

February 29th

March 29th

April 29th

May 29th (I think we were actually a few weeks delayed on this one, but close enough)

June 29th

July 29th

August 29th

September 29th

We're so ready for this boy to come! Can't wait to update with pictures of a baby instead of a belly!

Freezer Meals!

With Baby Nemo fast approaching his due date (t-minus 4 days people!!) I knew I needed to somehow prepare for the chaos that I know will be post-baby. I wanted to prepare our home in a way that would allow us to have healthy, homemade meals as much as possible after Nemo is born, even when I don't feel like cooking. Trust me, I'll find any excuse to eat out, but 1) I know our budget won't allow for a take out free-for-all for long, and 2) I'm going to want to lose weight, not gain it. So how does one plan for healthy, homemade meals when you know your life is going to be flipped up side down??

One word: PINTEREST! Thank God for you, pinterest. If you haven't checked it out, you should, but one word of caution- it's addicting!

A few friends had pinned links to blogs that outlined the process of putting together freezer meals. Basically, you combine a bunch of ingredients in a gallon plastic bag, freeze it, pull it out of the freezer the night before, & slow cook it all day for an easy, pre-made meal. Sounds like a perfect solution for sleep deprived, hungry, distracted new parents! 

So I roped my friend Amanda in to come over for a few hours & help me. She had done freezer meals before for her family, & she even is now running freezer meal workshops through her Wildtree business, so I figured, who better to help a rookie? 

Here's how I did my first round of freezer meals, recipes, & suggestions on how to improve. Maybe next time you'll join me!

Step 1: Grocery List Prep
First I found all the recipes I wanted to use. I found 10 recipes that made a total of 18 meals.

Slow Cooked Beef Fajitas
Shredded Mexican Beef (I used a pork roast because it's cheaper)
Jambalaya
Teriyaki Chicken, Lazy Day Stew, Stephanie's Goulash, and Sausage & Peppers came from here
Chicken Cacciatore, Pepper Steak, and Taco Soup came from here

I then put together a very large grocery list, careful to check my pantry & freezer for ingredients I already had.

Step 2: Grocery Store
I would plan to go to the store the day before you plan to put all your meals together. It's a big trip & you'll probably buy a lot of meat, so be prepared for a big bill!

Step 3: Label Bags & Put in Meat
*Do this step the day you get home from the store.

The first thing you'll want to do is label your bags with directions for cooking day, while the bags are empty & easy to write on. :-)

Add the meat to each bag. The reason I would do this the night before is, 1) The meat from the store will be thawed. You don't want to defrost frozen meat to put it in your bags, then freeze it again. Yikes! 2) The day of preparation, you won't have to work with raw meat, spices, veggies & canned food all together. Get the raw meat outta there, just do it the night before! Store all those bags on their own shelf in the fridge overnight.

MEAT!!!

Step 4: Set Up Your Stations
Get out your ingredients & set them into groups:
~Bags with recipes
~Spices with measuring spoons
~Veggies with a big cutting board & chef's knife
~Canned food w/ can opener

My stations weren't as organized as I would like, but next time they will be!

See my hot chocolate on the stove? Who can make it through freezer cooking without hot chocolate??

Step 5: Fill Bags!
I didn't do it this way, but next time I would take a bag & recipe & walk around & fill up with ingredients at each station. After each bag is full, seal & mix up, then it goes directly in the freezer. Thankfully Amanda chopped most of the veggies, which was a HUGE help. If you can get together with a friend to do this, most recipes make 2 bags- split the cost & you each go home with one! Having a friend to help chop saved a lot of time!

Some completed meals!

The meals take up the entire bottom shelf of our standing freezer!

Step 6: Thank those who helped you!!!
Thanks to Amanda & her precious son, Jonathan, for their help on Freezer Meal Day!

 

I plan to continue to do freezer meals even after Nemo is born. I think I'll get more efficient over time & there are so many recipes out there! How nice it will be to have meals ready to go with basically no effort when you need it! Have any of you done freezer meals? Any additional suggestions or recipes you love? Do share!

Who Will You Vote For?

Are you planning to vote in November? I truly hope you do. More so, I hope you vote with confidence & an accurate picture of who you're voting for. These days, nobody can turn on the tv, radio, or even Pandora without hearing all these political ads. We all know the election is coming up, but what we all might not know is exactly what these politicians stand for. We listen to these commercials, but each one seems contradictory & exaggerated. One says Mitt Romney will raise taxes, the next says Obamacare will cause a rise in taxes. One says Romney is going to outlaw birth control, the next says Obama kills cats for fun (okay I may have made that up). But seriously, please don't use political commercials as a source for choosing how to vote. So how do you know who to vote for?

Good question. And honestly, I'm still undecided as to how I will vote, even after the time I spent writing this blog.  After many days of research & exploring the vast world of the Internet, I've come up with each major candidate's viewpoints (sorry to all those 3rd party candidates out there). These are what I consider to be the main things I am concerned about this election. I left out things like Immigration, Gun Control, Energy & the Environment, & Foreign Policy. These are all important as well, but my brain hurts from collecting just this information. I really am trying to be unbiased, & I tried to use websites that were (at least read them in an unbiased way), but please feel free to tell me where I'm wrong or complain about my inaccuracies in the comments section. Hey, it's politics- if you can't take some criticism, get out! 

  Taxes    
~Obama: 
-Individuals: Tax the wealthy between 30-39.6%, raise taxes on capital gains & dividends for the wealthy while reducing their available tax deductions, tax the highest-value insurance plans
-Businesses: Reduce corporate tax rate to 28%, tax a corporation's foreign profits, offer businesses a tax credit to move operations to the US, no deductions for businesses that shift operations abroad
~Romney: 
-Individuals: Tax the wealthy approx 28%, the poorest at 8%, reflecting a 20% cut for all Americans in their current marginal tax rate, eliminate taxes on interest, dividends & capital gains (only if you earn less than $200,000/year), eliminate the death tax
-Businesses: Reduce corporate income tax rate to 25%
*The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center has expressed doubt that Romney's plan can all be done at once (think: adjustments may have to be made in his policy to actually be implemented- but isn't that true across the board for both candidates?)

"Tax experts say the US budget deficit can't be fixed solely by taxing the rich more, but that doing so could put a meaningful dent in the red ink." 

 
  Jobs & Economy  
~Obama: Invest more federal funds into unemployment benefits, advance & promote public jobs like teachers, construction workers, police, small businesses, auto industry workers, & manufacturing (offering federal loans seems to be his way of investing in these areas), tax penalties for companies that outsource jobs, raise minimum wage (said that last campaign but nothing has happened yet)
~Romney: Less government involvement in job sector, offer automatic permanent residency to graduates with advanced degrees in math, science & engineering, develop more international trade deals (open new trade markets for American goods & services), crack down on fair trade with China (make it work for US), reduce corporate tax rate to 25%, would not raise minimum wage



   Health Care  
~Obama:  
-Private Insurance: Offer tax credits to individuals to supplement the cost of premiums (beginning 2014), take away lifetime caps on what insurance companies will pay for someone (they can't just stop paying for treatment when someone reaches a certain dollar limit in their lifetime), free preventative care for all (ex: mammograms, blood pressure tests, childhood immunizations), require all Americans to have some form of health coverage (public or private) & offer federal subsidies to those who cannot afford premiums, not allow insurance companies to deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition (ex: HIV/AIDS)
-Medicare: Offer many of the same free services (preventative care, lower premiums), keep Medicare until at least 2026 (it is going bankrupt)
-Medicaid: Expand the program (for a household of 3, you would qualify if you make $76,000/year or less) 
~Romney:  
-Private Insurance: Allow individual states the power to vote for a health care reform plan for themselves by offering waivers for each state to not participate in Obamacare, allow HSAs to help cover premiums, offer a tax break to those who buy an individual health policy, allow insurance companies to deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition (as they currently can) but only for those who have not maintained continuous coverage (ex: someone with HIV who had no insurance for a time then buys a private policy can be denied coverage)
-Medicare: Implement a "premium support" system, where the government would give seniors a certain amount of money to be used to buy insurance
-Medicaid: Turn much of the federal funding into lump-sum payments (to states to disburse, I'm guessing? Not much info here)
 * Romney's plan claims it will create more competition among private insurance companies to drive down the cost of premiums

Disclaimer: President Obama inherited a $10.6 trillion national debt

   Debt  
~Obama: Cut the deficit $4 trillion in the next 10 years by investing in education, research & technology to strengthen the economy long-term, make the wealthy pay higher taxes, strengthen Medicare & Medicaid by cracking down on fraud (would lead to less government spending in that area), end the wars/involvement in the Middle East & use the savings to reduce the deficit, his plan depends on raising taxes to help pay down the deficit (estimated $1.5 trillion in higher taxes, mostly on wealthy)
-Federal Spending Goal: 22% of GDP, however the last 2 years it's been at about 24%
~Romney: Eliminate $100 million in foreign aid, cap Medicaid spending, opposed to most bailout policies (auto industry, for ex), lower federal employee compensation to be more equal to that of the private sector & reduce the federal workforce (Romney's website states this will save $47 billion), repeal Davis-Bacon act dealing with protecting labor unions (saving $11 billion), privatize Amtrak (saving $1.6 billion), cut arts & humanities subsidies (saving $600 million)
-Federal Spending Goal: Below 20% of GDP (but where will the cuts be? Romeny's plan isn't clear), immediately cut spending by 5% across the board (but again, where from?)




  Abortion & Women's Rights  
~Obama: Pro-choice on abortion, giving women the right to choose, continue to fund Planned Parenthood, require insurance plans to fully cover birth control, breastfeeding supplies, mammograms, prenatal care, domestic violence screenings & certain cancer screenings
~Romney: Pro-life, but through voting each state could determine their own abortion laws, [from what I read both Romney & Ryan allow for exceptions of rape, incest, & threat to the life of the mother, unlike the commercials may tell you], end federal funding for "abortion advocates" like Planned Parenthood, would not require insurance companies to cover contraception 100% [from what I understand, you could still get birth control with a copay, similar to the way many women do now, but it may not be free as it would under Obamacare. It seems Romney isn't opposed to birth control nor does it sound like he would limit access to most forms, just those like the morning after pill or some IUDs that prevent a fertilized egg from implanting, because Romney believes life begins at conception. Sorry if I'm seeming a little biased here, but those commercials [see one here] stating that women's health issues "haven't faced a crisis like this in decades", saying Romney is "dangerous" for women, & that he's going to take away basic healthcare, have just stuck out as absurd to me. Regardless of who I end up voting for, I think these commercials are ridiculous & very dramatic!]



  Education  
Hard to find drastic differences in K-12 education policies, in that both believe education to be very important & would like our students to be smarter...Duh.
~Obama: Allow individual states to create their own plans for educational reform, created "Race for the Top" which awarded states money for implementing programs & policies Obama supports, would increase funding to the US Department of Labor by 2.5%
-Higher Education: Create a tax credit for higher education students worth $10,000 over 4 years, offer more Pell-Grants to lower income students
 

~Romney: Hold high expectations for teachers, accountability for schools (plain speak: standardized tests) & increased parental choice (like charter schools), require schools to make standardized test results public, decrease the size of the US Department of Labor, while governor of Massachusetts Romney defended a requirement that high school seniors had to pass a "rigorous" test in order to graduate
-Higher Education: Work with private sources to offer more financial assistance to students instead of using federal funds, like Pell-Grants (Obama)

  Gay Marriage  
~Obama: Believes same sex couples should be able to get legally married
~Romney: Preserve traditional marriage as a federal policy (one of the few issues Romney doesn't believe should be left up to each state), except in the case of civil unions, where Romney says states should be left to decide what rights & benefits would be allowable under civil unions, would not seek to ban openly gay military members


     If you asked me to summarize (why, thanks for asking), Romney is more about letting individual states decide on many issues, while Obama is more about federal policies (the national government makes a decision & all states follow those policies). 
     Also, Obama would spend more federal money on various programs, but would have to have a way to make more money. In order to spend money, we need revenue, which is typically through higher taxes. 
     Romney would cut federal spending (less federal funds for programs) but lower taxes. Which mindset is right? That's up to you to decide.
      
[Sources:]
Obama website
Romney website
Christian Science Monitor
The Sacramento Bee


So, there you have it. A brief, incomplete, probably inaccurate in places, attempt to summarize the promises of the two main candidates in this year's election. There is so much more to making this decision. We have a responsibility to be informed voters. Please don't use your "gut," or vote strictly based on what political party you belong to, or put your mark next to the guy whose name sounds the best on election day. I encourage you to do your own research, watch the debates (and really listen!), & sort out who you believe to be the best candidate to lead our country for the next four years. It's a cheesy statement, but your vote really does count!

And remember, God is ultimately in control of our country regardless of who is on the "throne" of America. We can take comfort in knowing no matter what's going on in politics, God is our King & has power over all.
"The Lord has established his throne in heaven, & his kingdom rules over all." ~Psalm 103:19

30 Reasons I Love My Husband on His 30th Birthday

Today is my husband's 30th birthday! I don't do a good job of regularly telling him why I love him so much, so today I wanted to put it out there for the world to know. I have the best husband ever! Happy Birthday!!

1) My husband makes me laugh at least 5 times a day. He’s got this sense of humor that is goofy, natural, & spontaneous. He’s funny without trying too hard- it’s just natural. I love it!

2) He is a very talented writer with so many creative ideas. He has all these book concepts swimming around in his brain & has such a creative imagination. Someday he’s going to be a published author! Can’t wait to see my husband’s name on the cover of a book!

3) He’s very artistic- he’s done some great paintings, drawings & sketches. He has these little bubble aliens that might be my favorite of his sketches. He has painted this beautiful canvas that’s hanging above our mantle. He’s very talented!

4) He likes to drive! When we go to TX, he will drive the entire way!

5) He makes wise decisions about purchases- he researches the best brands, reviews, prices & best place to buy before making a purchase. I appreciate that because it saves us a lot of money!

6) He loves sports- and his two favorite are my two favorite- perfect! I grew up loving sports & I just don’t think I could marry a man who wasn’t as into sports as I am. He struggled through this Rockies baseball season with me & he’s become a diehard Broncos football fan. What more could a Colorado girl ask for? 

7) He makes random thoughts & statements into songs. Sometimes he’ll sing a little jingle & I give him a hard time about it being strange, but then he tells me it is an actual song. It’s always a guessing game when he’s singing…

8) He rides a motorcycle… with a helmet! Now that is sexy.

 9) He taught me how to make the best cinnamon toast! You spread butter on the bread then sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar, & broil it on low until the sugar is hardened. The bread is soft in the middle & toasted on the outside. Delicious!

10) For most special occasions, he will make a card for me on the computer- personalized with a picture of us & more meaningful than the $1 cards at Target!

11) He’s been to all the Twilight movies with me! Sorry to embarrass you honey, but that’s the sign of a great husband- sometimes, just do what your wife wants to do!

12) He tells me I’m precious to him. Melt!

13) He’s got an answer to any question you may have. If he doesn’t know, he will look it up & find the answer on the spot!

14) He has been really flexible with the choices we’ve made for the baby- he’s basically allowed me to do whatever I want, regarding using a birth center, doula, cloth diapers, etc. It means a lot he would respect my decisions as a mom & support them, even if it’s out of his comfort zone!

15) I am sooooo attracted to him. He is the most handsome man I know. I love his nose & his ears & his height & his legs & his little tushy…. Ok sorry, but ow ow! He’s all mine ladies!!

16) He can solve any computer/internet/technical problem I might ever have.

17) He makes up these voices or accents for different people or things that crack me up. Grizzly has his own voice, & Michael does it better than I do. I’m sure the baby will have his own voice; we’ve been working on that. He can also do great imitations. Often I’m laughing so hard I can’t even try to join in.  

18) We go to church together. We have the same core values. I don’t tell him that I love him for that, because it’s something seemingly small that I think I tend to overlook. It means so much that we can share & talk & discuss the things we believe about life & we’re generally on the same page.

19) He doesn’t yell. Ever. He’s very calm & level-headed.

Even when I do this...

 20) He works miracles in Microsoft Excel. Seriously. You want this box to be divided into this box, but only when this box equals ½ the amount of this other box but only when it’s in the first 6 months of the year? Ya, he can do that. 

21) He puts up with my pink obsession. Maybe I should wait & see if we ever have a girl if he still is willing to put up with it, but for now he does, & I love him for it. 

22) He eats whatever I make for him. He won’t ever say he doesn’t like something. He might put it like this: “It’s not my favorite.” But he eats it anyways. 

23) He went to a Rascal Flatts concert with me- even though he calls them a country boy band & doesn’t like country music at all.

24) He has this penguin… He bought a plastic penguin statue from a music store when he was in college, & it’s traveled with us ever since. He won’t let me get rid of it. He’s quirky like that.

25) We do active things together- we enjoy playing tennis, hiking, rafting, biking, & even just walking the dog. We do a lot of outdoor activities together.

26) He’s a manly man- he built a shed, he kills spiders, lifts weights, mows lawns, takes out trash, opens jars for me, carries heavy things, fixes broken things, & more. It’s dreamy!

27) We can be nerds around each other. I crochet during movies, he shows me his progress in Minecraft, & I just feel comfortable to not care what anyone thinks! Heck, we’ll even dress up like cows to get a free Chick-fil-A meal! 

28) He’s going to be such a wonderful father to baby Nemo. I could give you 30 reasons why I know that, but I just know he’s going to be involved, fun, & a great role model to our little boy.

Can't you just see it?? =)

29) He does his job in a way no one else can. It would take a century to train someone new to do the things he does! He pulls reports, looks at data, & keeps track of figures & clients in a very systematic, logical way that isn’t really taught. He’s a genius!

30) There’s just something about him. Physically, emotionally, mentally & spiritually I am attracted to him & admire him. I don’t believe in soul mates, but I’m so confident I’ve found the man I’m going to happily spend the rest of my life with, & just the thought makes me happy. Happy Birthday, my love. I’m so glad to have spent 7 years with you so far, & I look forward to many more, God willing. I love you more than anyone else on this earth.