Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom

So I had a play date the other day. 

My very first one. 

It's where moms get together to let their kids play while they get some other adult interaction.

It was nice.

Bridge was the youngest. She sat on my lap and with bleary eyes watched the other kids play (it was nap time.)

I was selfish enough to sacrifice her nap time so I could reach out to other human beings.

As I chatted and got to know the other ladies I started to feel inadequate.

"Yeah, I started going to school when I was pregnant with my first, and I have been in school ever since."

(She is pregnant with her fifth due in May)

"I really hope this baby isn't clingy because I am starting nursing school in the fall."

"I know, going to school is the worst when you have kids. I failed two classes when my baby was a newborn, but now I am 3 weeks away from graduating."

"I teach aerobics." (and the primary president)

"I do hair."

"I have 4 kids and home-school all of them."

"I work part-time."

"I am a dental hygienist."

"I am so busy all the time, luckily today is my day off."

"Oh really, what do you do?"

"Music lessons, and I don't start teaching until 4:00 today so it feels like its my day off."

"Very nice, what kind of music lessons?"

.....

"So, what do you do?"

"I stay at home with Bridget."

"Wow that would be so nice. What do you do all day?"

"Uh............. I clean, and cook, play with Bridget, and make curtains?"

I decided not to mention that I only clean sometimes, that I blog, and some days neither Bridge nor I get our of our pj's.

 

On more than one occasion my conversation with Trevor has gone something like this:

"Ok, scenario, if you had a chance to win a T.V and a scooter OR a trip to South Beach what would you choose?

"I would....."

"Oh really, well the lady on price is right or let's make a deal did...."

Sure, there are the days that I feel completely lazy but I try to make those few and far between.

 I feel like I am not busy enough though.

But when I am honest with myself I don't want to be so busy. I like that I can literally play with Bridget all day. I assume it only happens with the first baby, but she gets my attention.

I know it wasn't any of the ladies intention to make me feel inadequate. 

So I am going to choose to remember:

-I actually do do quite a bit.

-I am extremely grateful I finished my schooling before I was even married.

-I get to spend everyday with my baby.

-I have become a much better cook than I ever knew I was capable of.

- We are incredibly blessed that we can live off Trevor's income so I don't have to work, one day that may change.

-My life will inevitably get busier, so there is no point in filling it with things I don't really want to do now, just so I can fit in. 

I am grateful for my life and what I have now.

Scenes from the...

Nutcracker. 

Not really.

Have you ever seen "Little Rascals?" 

It's the part when they are at the dance recital, the dance teacher says it. 

Anyone?

Oh wow. I obviously have not gotten enough sleep the past couple days.

In fact that's why I didn't post these pictures yesterday. 

Bridget has decided she doesn't need to sleep, ever. 

Not from 3am - 7am.

Not at nap time. 

I mean I know she is smart, she grows and learns new things everyday.

But I think she's still pretty young to think she is doesn't need sleep anymore. 

I'll google it.

Well, who knew it was possible to get on a tangent from the title?

here are some pictures.

I was going to do just pictures from valentines day, but we'll make it an assorted array.

This post seems to be a little aimless.

I said "smile."
This is what I got:

Grandma Ruthie made Bridget a special Valentine pillowcase.

Just hangin out.

she's probably thinking about how she doesn't need to sleep anymore. 

 I can't get enough of these faces, or these cheeks.

Now it's nap time... wish us luck.

Happy What?

Oh yeah.... Happy Valentines Day. 

I have never been great at Valentines Day. Especially before I was married, I forgot it was V-day every year.

I could never understand why some of my roommates would mope around, it's just like any other day, right?

Well I was going to tell you how I semi-botched / it was the best valentines day ever three years ago.

But I will start out by telling you how I already ruined today. 

It's 7:42am.

If after I feed Bridget she goes back to sleep then so do I. So I am rarely up when Trevor leaves for work. But for some reason after I fed her at 7:00 I couldn't go back to sleep so I came downstairs to start writing my valentines day post.

Nope, I didn't even think: "It would be really nice if I made breakfast, or pack a lunch or something for Trevor today."

I just came down and sat on my booty.

Well I heard Trevor go out into the garage so I thought he was grabbing a tool or something. 

He often needs tools when he is pouring himself a bowl of cereal. No, but really it didn't throw me off that he would be out there, he loves his garage.

What did make me curious was how long he was out there. I kept thinking, "is he trying to paint a coat on the dresser before work? He is going to be so late!"

So I went out to see what he was doing. 

He whirled around with the guiltiest face. 

It was like a caught a 4-year-old scribbling with permanent marker on my walls.

He had a beautiful rose in his hand.

"Oh no! I am so sorry! I was wondering what was taking you so long, I came out to help."

"You aren't supposed to even be awake right now!"

I spoiled the surprise. 

He also got me a box of chocolate covered strawberries and a beautiful card. 

My awful timing aside, he is an incredible man. I am so lucky to have him.

Which brings me to...Valentines Day 2009:

I actually need to rewind about a month. 

In January 2009 Trevor and I had been dating for a while and we started talking about getting married. 

I felt it necessary to tell him

"When you propose don't do anything too cheesy or cliche."

"Like what?" he asked.

"Well, like on Valentines day or anywhere near a temple."

You see we had met while going to school at BYU-Idaho, and I am going to throw out a statistic here and say 70% of engaged couples got engaged on temple grounds. 

Basically I had felt like it was overdone and I wanted something a bit more original.

So what did he do?

I am sure you have picked up on the foreshadowing here, but like any romantic comedy I will go on even though you know what's going to happen.

His family came down from Idaho to go through the open house for the draper temple before it was dedicated. 

It happened to be on Valentines Day. 

My parents also decided to come with us and as we were all walking though the temple we got to the sealing rooms. 

There was an usher standing near an altar in the middle of the room, he caught eye contact with me and Trevor and waved us over. 

He started whispering "look into the mirrors, they are placed that way so it looks as if you go on forever. It's symbolic."

I whispered back: "It's beautiful. Actually we are going to be married here in June."

(I was one of those girls who had already scheduled and picked out a date before I even had a ring on my finger.)

"Oh wow, congratulations." he responded.

"Yes just one thing left to do." Trevor piped in.

Then he turned to me and knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

"Are you kidding me?" was my reply. 

Because you see, I thought it was a joke. He was doing exactly what I told him not to do. 

When I realized the little box in his hand with a gorgeous diamond ring inside meant it wasn't a joke I quickly replied with an emphatic "Yes!"

When he got up to hug me he was sweating excessively.

I was concerned so I asked, "Are you ok?"

 

"I thought you were going to say 'No'."

Oops.

Poor guy has to deal with me everyday of the year.

He proved me a fool though because it was the most wonderful Valentines day I ever had.

You can't take pictures inside the temple so here is a picture of the room we were in when he proposed. It was so memorable and sweet. 

I LOVE YOU TREVOR MILLAR!!

Before / After

Remember about a week and a half ago when I said I was in project mode?

Well I finished the curtains for my bedroom...
 I LOVE them!!!

BEFORE

 AFTER

 BEFORE

(And Trev patiently waiting for me to take my "before" pictures, even though he already had half of them up when I told him to take them down for my pictures.)

AFTER

Thank you Pinterest. 

They were super easy but time consuming. Especially because I only worked on them during nap time.

This was my inspiration:

You can find the tutorial here

Or if you want to repin on pinterest here

They are patterned after some anthropology curtains. 

The size I did would have cost me $208 for two panels if I had gotten them at anthro and I made FOUR panels, so I saved a whole ton of money 

(that was my argument for Trevor)

I used white muslin that I got for $3.99 / yard, and I got 21 yards. 

I have just barely less then a yard left.

In the tutorial she says she measured each panel 90" so that after hemming and casing the panels would be around 80". I measured my panels 100".

My curtain rod I got on clearance at Ross, I liked it because it expanded up to 128" so I only needed one rod for both my windows.

The whole project cost me $90.

I was amazed how different the curtains made the room feel. 

It feels so much more home-y.

I just want to hang out in there all day.

A new chapter in "The Tales of Miss Bridget"

An adventure with solids:

 Bridge has been showing some clear interest in solid food. 

With her teeth and the fact that avocados were on sale and I decided to give it a go.

She actually did pretty good.

She swallowed maybe two bites. 

But she sure enjoyed the new texture in her mouth by pushing it out and sucking it back in and blowing bubbles.

And so it has begun.

3:30 AM

The past few nights 3:30am has been a very active time at our house.

Last night when Bridget woke up for her nightly feeding she ate like normal and nearing the end I was getting ready to put her back in her bed when she decided it would be an excellent time for a poop. 

But not just a poop, a blowout. 
I know it doesn't look that bad, but it was everywhere.

 I thought I could just wipe her down and head back to bed but it required a bath.

Baths in the middle of the night aren't the best baths, I tend to be impatient. 

Bridge seemed to enjoy it.

 It's funny, babies don't seem to apply to any of the social rules, 

I get so happy every time she poops. 

Even when it's at 3:30AM.

Everyone's nicer after a bowel movement.

That brings us to a few nights before.

I get up with Bridget in the night and 98% of the time Trevor sleeps through any noise she or I makes. Which I am grateful for, I would feel bad if he were a light sleeper. 

On this night I was up feeding Bridget, Trevor didn't stir when I got up to get her.

Usually when I feed her in the night I sit in the chair with my head down and doze until she's ready to change sides.

I had my head down when I felt someone touch me! 

It came from deep in my gut, a raspy explosion out of my mouth: 

"OH MY GOSH!"

As I gripped my baby tighter to my body in a protective hold,

I started swinging my other arm ready to do some lasting damage to my perpetrator.

"Oh, Whoa! Hey!" 

It was Trevor.

He had come in on his way to the bathroom and decided to stop and was giving me a kiss on the forehead when he was assaulted. 

But the damage was done.

Adrenaline was pumping through my veins.

Bridget was crying.

And Trevor had some pretty good slap marks.

Have you ever watched the discovery channel, Trevor?

They call us Mama Bear for a reason. 

It took us all a little while to get back to sleep.

We love 3:30 in the morning.

It's the new 9:00.

What goes on in a baby's mind?

This past weekend we went to Idaho to visit Nana and Bumpa. 


Bridget got to spend some more time with her cousin. Here is a conversation between babies:

Hailey: "She's touching me!"

Bridget: "Nah uh, I'm just being nice. See."

Bridget: "Look, Hailey, the next three weeks are kind of rough. I know, I've lived through it. Sleep training, teeth, blowouts, the list goes on. But don't worry I'm here for you."

Bridget: "Nice talk. High five."

Bridget: "Now hold my hand."

A little while later....

Bridget: "Hey, Hailey, I know you're praying but I have a secret to tell you."

Bridget: "What?! I wasn't doing anything!!!"

Do you think we take too many pictures?

Thursday?

Holy smokes, how did Thursday get here?

This week really got away from me.

Probably because I have been in project mode therefore everything else has gone to the wayside.

When I get in project mode I don't cook, clean, sleep, shower. My baby is lucky she gets fed.

Trevor loves it when I get in project mode.

Would you like a sneak peak?

It's a lot of sewing

 And a lot of painting.

I hope to be done with everything next week so there will be some awesome before and afters coming your way.

Go and enjoy your Friday Eve. I will be sewing furiously.

How to: BOTTLE MEAT

Ok people, canning meat is the best ever. 

It is single handedly the most convenient thing in my life!

I am serious. 

 I use it probably 5 times a week because the other nights we are eating leftovers.

So without further ado, how to bottle chicken:

Make sure you have enough bottles, run them through the dishwasher to be sure they are sterile.

Watch the ads and when chicken goes on sale clean the store out. 

Chicken is usually anywhere from $2.00+ / lb. 

A good price on chicken is anything under $1.79 / lb. 

I got this chicken for $1.49 / lb at Macey's.

Cut off additional fat at rinse

Put the chicken in the bottles, fill to about the first rim

Add 1/2 tsp of sea salt on top

Take a clean damp rag and clean off the rim so the lid will be sure to seal.

 Put all your lids in warm to hot water before placing them on each bottle.

 Now we are ready to can!

The key to the whole process:

The Pressure Canner.

Ask your grandma, your mom, aunts, see if anyone has a pressure canner you can use. 

If not, you can order one online starting at about $200 depending on the size.

It is so worth it and it will pay for itself over and over again!

Fill it about a 1/4 way full with water.

Add your bottles. 

Depending on the size of your canner you can process 8 - 18 bottles at once.

When you close your canner you need to do it at opposite ends. Like the front one first, then the back, then the left, then the right, etc.

Turn your burner on high. 

The canner will need to get hot. Keep the pressure release in the open position. When it starts to get hot steam will come out of the pressure release that is called "exhausting." It need to exhaust for 10 min. Once 10 minutes is up close the pressure release. 

When the release is closed the pressure gage will start to climb. 

The gage needs to be about at about 14. 

When the gage gets to 14 you will time it for 70 minutes. Also you will want to turn down the burner gradually so the gage stays at 14 for the entire 70 minutes. (it will eventually be at about medium heat)

After the 70 minutes turn off your burner completely and let the pressure gage get back to zero (it will take some time, maybe around 15 minutes). Once the gage is back to zero you can flip the pressure release open to remove and pressure / steam and you can open your canner. 

Be sure you open your canner the way you closed it with opposite sides.

Voila! 

You have bottled chicken ready to be thrown into any dish. 

I use it in soups, casseroles, crockpot dishes, salads, literally anything that calls for chicken. 

It's already cooked so it makes things SO FAST!

 It is delicious and so moist. 

It's not just chicken either you can bottle pork, roast, ground beef, etc. 

(The ground beef is a little more difficult because you have to brown it before bottling. But it saves you from having to brown it later when you are cooking a meal.)

Deep Thoughts - On Breastfeeding - Part Deux

By: Jack Handy April Millar

 *Breastfeeding is excellent for posture. You no longer have the desire to slouch because when you do your nipples touch your belly button.

*After watching Bridget play with my empty water bottle I thought "Water bottles are shaped like breasts." So in essence, none of us have given up the boob.

*Don't buy your nursing bra two days after you give birth when your boobs are engorged. After a couple weeks you could put both boobs and a fist in one of the cups to try and fill it out. And after a couple of months you will never wear it again because it's so large your baby could sit in it.

*The breast pump will become your best friend, maybe even before your husband.

*If your baby starts to prefer the bottle over you, so you make her eat only from you, but then you decide one day to give her a bottle again, don't be surprised when she gags. 

*Breastfeeding definitely gets better: I trained Bridget to tickle my neck whenever she is eating.