Oh how far I've come

Lately I've been reflecting on how much things have changed over the course of my marriage. Darren & I were married almost 5 years before we had Oscar. Now - not to discount the joys of children & motherhood.... those were a good 5 years. We lived in San Diego most of them in a condo we bought & remodeled. We had two (pretty good) incomes. We were both architects. We traveled. We were thin, cute & tan. We spent our incomes on good food, good clothes & good friends. We spent our weekends at the beach, working out, and them meeting friends for coctails and parties. Ahhhh. Good times.

Fast forward 9 years to today. Darren returned to his normal travel schedule & caught a cab at 4:30am this am to PDX. So this is my first day all on my own with my three children. Oscar 4, Calvin 2, Jack 1 month. Calvin & Jack have colds. I was trying to think of what we could do today that would be super super low key & not spread our germs too much. So I decided to drop off my maternity clothes at Goodwill & then take the clan to our favorite coffee shop Blue Gardenia for steamers & cookies. I got everyone up, dressed & fed and out of the house by about 9:30am. I thought I was doing great until we got to the coffee shop. After me & my tornado enter I notice two very stylish women about my age having coffee. My boys & I settle into a table & I get a good view of them; while Oscar and Calvin eat thier cookies I am hit w/ how different I LOOK from them today. I survey my group & notice I forgot to comb Oscar's hair - if you've seen him you know that his un combed hair resembles something Dr. Suess draws. He was also wearing a combination of colors that shouldn't be seen out of the house. Calvin has a broken arm & his nose is a constant stream I can no longer keep up with. Jack has recently broke out in baby acne that is similar to the before pro-active commercials. And then there is me. My day old hair is up in a pony tail. I've no make up on. I'm wearing one of the few things that fit me now (the maternity clothes are too big but my normal clothes don't fit either - not that they would be in style even if they did)..... a black track suit. Which incidentally the San Diego version of me wouldn't have been caught dead in, especially w/o make up & day old hair. Oh.. and Jack's spit up is on my shoulder too. I did manage to brush my teeth this morning but if THAT is what makes a good day... I probably need a little work.

Yes I realize this is just a phase & I had a baby just weeks ago. And yes I realize I wouldn't trade in the kids for all the beach in the world. But those women sitting there w/ thier purses (remember those girls - no diaper compartements), make up (yes even w/ eye liner), accessories (really nice ones that would be ruined by a nursing babies arm reaching up & grabbing it), this seasons shoes (not flip flops), stylish clothes, etc... made me look forward to a time when I have more time to focus on me. Those of you w/ little kids can relate I'm sure.

There will come a day when a good day is based on how OUR hair & clothes turned out... not that we got our teeth brushed before heading out the door.

What are the chances.....

So I broke my first bone when I was 2 1/2 years old. I fell off my daddy's knee. Glamorous, I know. What can I say.

Oscar broke his first bone when he was 2 1/2 years old too (here is a photo of him 2 yrs ago when that happened). He was running & tripped and fell.


Today, Calvin broke his first bone. He is just over 2 years old. He fell over in a little kids chair.



We're building the bubble for Jack's 2nd year of life right now.....

Jack - 1 week old today!!

Jack is 1 week old today!! So far each day has been different. He is nursing like a champ. Sleeping has been great some days / nights; not so great some days / nights. Today has has slept all day - like a zombie so we are a tad aprehensive about how the night will go. However, since this is likely our last baby - we are trying to look at each day as a joy. He is so cute. Here he is....

Baby is here!!

Welcome

Jack Darren Lewis

Born 2/27/2009 3:01pm

8 pounds 11 oz

20 1/2 inches long

Our sweet baby boy is here making me the mother of three sons now. All went well. Baby is doing great. Mommy is doing great. Oscar & Calvin came to visit us this am & that went great. Here are some shots. And yes it does appear as though we have another red head on our hands.

My Men

Darren is an awesome daddy.

Every saturday he & the boys make panckakes.

Today he also changed the mini van oil. This is not something he enjoys really but we're trying to save some $$ and he wants to teach the boys the basic life skills type stuff (like changing oil & making your wife & family pancakes!!)

Gotta love my husband!!

Playdate

We have weekly playdates w/ our good friends "the Bailly's". Here are some shots of this am. Amelia is 2 like Calvin & Zeke is just over 1 month old.

Update on our weekend

If you ever doubted God's ability to orchestrate your life, our weekend was a stellar example.

We had a date weekend set up for December where the boys were going to spend the weekend w/ my mom & dad while we partied down. Then the snow storm hit. So we rescheduled for this weekend. Friday to Sunday.

The boys were off friday morning. I promptly got sick. Really sick. I was up all night throwing up. By the time morning came we decided to call my OB & they said we should head to the hospital to check baby out. As it turns out, by the time I got there I was having contractions every 2-6 minutes and was SEVERLY dehydrated. So I was in the hospital for 6-8 hours or so. The contractions slowed to no more than one per half and hour & they re-hydrated me through an IV. During this time, over at my parents little Calvin was also throwing up all night w/ the same bug. Poor little kid. Oscar & Darren, thankfully have managed to stay healthy.

Everyone is beginning to doing better now. Slowly getting food back into our system & we'll pick up Calvin & Oscar later today. Mom & Dad say Calvin slept most of last night & didn't throw up at all. Same story for me.

We cannot help but thank God that the boys were not here this weekend. Darren couldn't have handled a 2 year old & 8m pregnant wife throwing up all night alone, let alone gotten me to the hospital w/ a sick kid at home. What a blessing that Calvin had two healthy grandparents to take care of him all weekend & I had a husband devoted only to me!

Thanks to all of you who were praying for us!!

Long days of January

We've had a bit of a change in our routine. Our two weekly playdates have been cancelled or postponed. The Edward family moved to Southern California & the Bailly family had a baby - who ended up in the hospital for a week. We are SO looking forward to seeing them again regularly once they are healthy - hopefully next week.

Anyway, we've had to be creative in filling our weeks up. We've started having playdates w/ a good friend of mine who has two daughters about Oscar & Calvin's age. We meet at a place called Me Too which is way cool. Here are a few shots. It gives Shawnna & I a chance to actually talk. Shocking, I know. Here are the boys playing in the playroom & Lauren all dressed up...

We've also added a weekly or bi-weekly trip to the downtown library. We take the max which is an adventure in itself. Jen Bailly made the boys "book bags" for Christmas so this gives them a chance to use them. The dwtn library has story times, a huge children's section & is super fun for them. We even got them each a library card!

And of course there is OMSI - which we hit a few times a month.

7 weeks or so to go before we'll have to reinvent it all again when the baby arrives. Speaking of the baby - we moved the boys into the same room together this month. That is going great. This has freed up the nursery for re-decorating. So I've also spent the last few weeks painting giant navy dots on the wall. It'll give this little guy something fun to look at & make the nursery his own, instead of yet another hand-me-down.

C-mas Eve

So the boys got ONE early present from my mom & dad. A puppet show. Great fun was to be had....

And the BIG present that the boys will get tomorrow will be a HUGE train table w/ all the stuff that goes w/ it. In fact we are thinking of changing the name of this room from playroom / family room to TRAIN ROOM. Here is Darren trying to set up the ultimate train wonderland (he has about 2 1/2 hours of work into it so far at this shot....it is actually much harder than it looks to plan a train city) Not sure yet who will have more fun, Darren or the boys.

Merry Christmas to all!

More Snow

This is a dog across the street who has planted himself in the snow. Cracks me up. He got almost buried before he moved.

Here is Oscar & Darren having sled runs down our driveway

in the laundry basket. So fun!

Snow days...

Some photo's of the boys in the snow. I'll have great helpers when they are bigger!!

Playdates

I am blessed to have two girlfriend whom I love who have kids that my kids love. The boys & I have playdates w/ each of them once a week. Here are some shots of all our fun!

Here are some w/ the Edwards group...

Here are some from our playdates w/ The Baillys...

Awesome playdate spot...

So my friend Shawnna (& her girls) invited me & the boys to a playdate at a place in Beaverton called Me Too. It is the best place ever. They have a large cafe / casual restaurant area & a separate kids play area. Now if you know my kids you know that unless mommy can play w/ them too it is usually a no go. This place must be magic. Once the boys saw the cool toys & interacted w/ the sweet woman in the play area... they were gone. And the staff was cool enough to let them go in & out as they need. I'm going to make it a regular spot & you should concider it too if you have little kids. They have coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner... whatever you want! Thanks Shawnna!!

Recipe's....

So there are a few recipe's that many of you have requested lately. Here they are. Happy cooking / baking!!

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ELEPHANT'S TOMATO ORANGE SOUP
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup heavy cream

In a saucepan, melt butter; add onion and sauté until translucent. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, baking soda and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Puree in a food processor or blender; strain through a sieve or food mill. (I used a hand held immersion blender for this.) Return to saucepan and stir in orange juice. At this point, the soup can be refrigerated until ready to serve. At serving time, add the whipping cream and heat gently, stirring constantly, bringing to a simmer and adjust seasonings if necessary. Extra cream maybe drizzled on top of the soup immediately before serving for decorative effect.
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CHOCOLATE FUDGE LAYER CAKE w/ WHITE CHOCOLATE WHIPPED CREAM FROSTING (adapted from recipe printed in Bon Appetite)

Cake:
4 oz chopped unsweetened chocolate
1 3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 t baking powder
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 cups sugar
1/2 unsalted butter, room temp
2 t vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup whole milk

Frosting:
3 cups chilled whipped cream
2 T unsalted butter
1/2 lb chopped white chocolate
2 t vanilla extract
1/2 t almond extract

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare two 9" cake pans. Stir unsweetened chocolate into saucepan over low heat until melted & smooth. Cool slightly. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda & salt into bowl. Beat butter & sugar until well blended. Add lukewarm chocolate & vanilla. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Mix in cocoa powder mixture & 3 additions, alternating w/ milk. Divide between pans & bake 35 m. Cool completely.

Bring 1 cup cream & butter to simmer in saucepan until butter melts. Remove from heat & add white chocolate. Stir until smooth, add vanilla. Bring to room temp. Beat remaining 2 cups cream & almond extract in large bowl until peaks form. While beating, slowely add in chocolate. Chill - fold occasionally.

Place on layer of cake on platter. Spead w/ frosting, add second layer. Spread remaining frosting on top & sides. Serve & enjoy!!

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SPICED CRANBERRY CAKE (adapted from recipe printed in Bon Appetite)
*Great for a holiday coffee cake.

2 cups flour
3/4 cup almond flour
2 1/2 t chinese five spice powder
1 t baking powder
1/2 t each baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger
1 cup unsalted butter, room temp.
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped hazelnuts
1 cup halved frozen cranberries
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350; prepare 12c bundtpan.

Whisk first 8 ingredients in bowl. Beat butter & sugars until fluffy (3m). Add eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla, then sour cream. Add dry ingredients. Fold in nuts & all cranberries. Pour into bundt pan. Back for 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool completely & turn cake out. Enjoy!

Party Party Party

We had a weekend full of parties & it was oh so fun. First, Saturday was Oscar's 4th. A truck theme. Here are some shots.

Then Sunday we headed over to the Bailly's for Amelia's 2nd. Robot theme. Oscar is still running around saying, "Robot's do not poop or pee."... thanks Jason Bailly! Here are some shots of that party. Plus a shot of the robot stuffed toy that Jen made for all the kids!