One of these eggs is doing its own thing....

Wow. That one must have hurt coming out.

Oregon Press, you have competition.

Ana has found her singing voice. And when she sings, no one else can make a noise. If we even try to sing along with her, most days she stops and shushes us. (The only time she allows it is if we're singing Itsy Bitsy Spider.)

Her songs are typically about whatever she happens to be looking at. So, if we're in the kitchen, they are usually about eggs or bowls. If we're in the living room, they might be about books or bears.

But sometimes they are about religious paintings. Namely one of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and one of Mary holding the baby Jesus, both of which are on our living room wall. So, on that day, Ana sat on my lap, did some pitch practice, and after a glance around the room launched into a verse that went like this: "Jesus, Jesus, two of 'em."

In other news, the snow we were dumped with is slowly melting and tomorrow we're going to set out the nifty cold frame Dan made hopefully to warm the soil enough that we can start planting in a few weeks. Some onions, lettuces, kale, maybe a radish or two. I can't wait for a break from winter squash and potatoes.

Speaking of potatoes, this morning we found that we were out of bread (I've been out of soured milk for a while so I haven't been able to make a batch lately). So with our eggs, we ate hash browns, which I always forget is even an option. It was rather tasty! Ana, on the other hand, decided that she doesn't like hash browns. So, I happily ate hers and gave her the rest of my scrambled eggs.

And now I have to get back to my furious knitting. Because, between a new baby, a growing garden, and boiling sap, i have no idea when i will have time to knit again.

I've been having such a host of fakey contractions these last two weeks, I'm beginning to doubt that I will even recognize true labor when it starts. Darn it. Every evening, Dan gets home from work and asks if I've had any contractions. And I reply, yes, like a bazillion.

With Ana it was so much easier. I never had a contraction until the day before she was born. So easy. So simple.

I'm getting really excited to give birth and to hold this little squirmer in my arns. And, quite frankly, I'm almost equally as excited to wear this cute pink shirt I bought a few months back but haven't been able to wear due to my big ol abdomen. What is it with pregnancy and feeling gross?

In other news, today is the start of my favorite time of year: Lent. The other day, I asked Dan what I should give up this year as a sacrifice for Jesus. He had a fun time with that one, and while he did giggle a lot, he couldn't really come up with anything. And neither could I. So, I finally settled on praying the Rosary every day of Lent. The Rosary isn't a huge part of my spirituality. Don't get me wrong, I like it and all, it's just doesn't have a big role in my daily living. Well, as of late, I'm been really struggling with concentrating during prayer (I wonder why, CHILD), so I think the Rosary will help with that. I think it should be a fruitful Lenten practice since giving up sweets doesn't usually cut it for me. Besides, I just bought a bag of jellybeans the other day, and I'm not through them quite yet.

Til tomorrow!

Body members and piggys.

This weekend I became a godmother: the spiritual mother of one precious one week old baby boy named Ian, a new member of Christ's body. Dear Ian, may God continue to guide your steps and give you the courage to become the man he desires you to be.

In other news, Ana is finally letting me actually put her hair into hairdos. A task banned for the last several months. Today we did these cute little piggy tails. And for daddy's benefit here is a shot of them. Course Ana hasn't warmed back up to the camera, which explains why she always has a pained look on her face as of late.

Viva Italia.

For the first time ever, Dan and I decided to do something about Valentine's Day. So, on the advice of a friend, we paid a visit to the Left Bank Cafe in Slayton, about a half hour drive south.

During the day, the Left Bank Cafe is an eatery/coffee shop with few tables, super friendly staff, and lots of things to look at while sipping their delicious brew. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, they serve wonderous meals. Saturday night being the highlight, for on this night they cook up a multi-course themed meal. For February, they're dishing Italian. Oh joy. Oh rapture complete.

It took a good 2 and a half hours to savor all NINE courses. Two of which Wee Wambeke didn't allow in, so I had to doggy bag them. It was a splendid evening which, for $20 each, we will definately do again someday.

Check out this here Nine Course Menu:
1. Paresan Puffs
2. Bruschetta (the best Dan has ever had)
3. Minestrone
4. Anti Pasto
5. Ravioli
6. Braised Lamb Alla Romano (Joy had to bag it.)
7. Berry Granitas
8. Chicken Marsala (Joy had to bag this one too. It was the main course. Dan merrily scarfed down his, all the while singing something about mini bowtie pasta.)
9. Tiramisu

And of course, Nero d'Avola wine and their roasted on the premises coffee.

My only complaint is that the waitress, seeing me in my pregnant state, took the liberty to oppose wine or anything caffeinated on my side of the table. I was less than thrilled because I am no slave to the rules of pregnant sippers and diners. But whatever, she meant well. It was easily solved when I made Dan order a second glass of wine. Course then she made a comment about Dan being drunk. Huh?

Now that we're past the 37 week point, there's nothing I'd like more than to push this child out so we can meet him! And it seems my body agrees, but not strongly enough. Grrrrrr.

Here's a pic of Wee Wambeke in utero. He might be even smaller than Ana was. Course, I carried Ana a month longer at this point.



In other news, our hens are champs. We have consistently been getting 8-11 eggs a day from those wonderous ladies. And we've only used a heat lamp for those few weeks of witches and titties. Not bad for 13 hens (One of whom isn't laying anymore. I'll find you yet and make a tasty soup!)

Hopefully the next time I post it'll have lengths and weights and boys names all over it. And hopefully he likes eggs.

One last picture, since I can't stop looking over old baby pictures of Ana. Wonder why?

My hero.

These days on the prairie are getting more and more spring-like which is making everyone in a much better mood.

In fact, yesterday and today we all spent the afternoon outside doing this and that. I didn't do much but walk around with Ana. But Dan got busy and built us a nice new cold frame for our garden so we can enjoy salads and fresh greens for our soups a few months earlier than otherwise. Swoon.

Here's Dan and Ana with the new cold frame (minus the plastic that will actually trap the heat).

Humor Break (from Dan)

Now that we are very near to having a signed stimulus bill that either will or will not make all our problems go away, depending upon what your political affiliation is, here's a little humor to inject in your day that I shamelessly swiped from this blog.

It's Oversimplified Economics, to be sure. But still funny. And it should be equally offensive to both Republicans and Democrats, so it's safe to post.

Important Information on the Stimulus Payment

This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment.
This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to Taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.
_____________________________________________

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the Economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

If you spend that money at K-Mart, all the money will go to China.

If you spend it on petrol it will go to the Arabs.

If you purchase a computer it will go to India.

If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to South East Asia or New Zealand.

If you buy a car it will go to Japan.

If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan.

And none of it will help the economy.

We need to keep that money here. You can keep the money here by spending it at garage sales, going to a football game, or spending it on prostitutes, beer or tattoos, since those are the only businesses still here.

Shopping spree, anyone?

Life is good.

Ana is getting ready for the new baby to come! She's on a nap strike and won't go to sleep until round abouts 8:30 or 9. Not to mention she clocked a slumbering two month old in the forehead with a tennis ball.

A little worrisome.

We did squeeze in a visit to the OB yesterday. She is very nice, and answered all my annoying questions right. So right, in fact, that I almost feel good about delivering in a hospital since the midwife said she couldn't do a homebirth with us (she's planning a family reunion the for weekend Wee is due). And the best news: I'm two centimeters dialated and 50% effaced already. Hoorah for braxton hicks! They do count for something.

It has been a busy couple of days otherwise. Today we spent the day with our friends the Rabaeys. We all piled into Jennifer's van and rode to Ivanhoe to browse the children's section of the library. Nothing could really be worse than the selection in Marshall, so we were all pretty excited. It wasn't fantastic, but Jennifer did walk away with the Treasury of James Herriot for children. Not bad! Afterwards we went back to the Rabaey household where Ana got to romp with their four kids while Jennifer gave me lots of homeschooling tips. Around 5, Dan and John arrived from their day jobs and we all commenced the salivating over the perfectly roasted turkey Jennifer had hiding in the oven all day. Dinner was great, Ana had ice cream. Enough said.

Tomorrow, we get to go and play with Elena and her mommy and some other kids.

Life is pretty good for one little girl named Ana and her mommy and daddy.

Now Accepting Applications

For someone to come and wring the neck of our rooster.
Seriously.
Before the weather gets warm.
You may even keep the rooster for your own soup if you want.
Because we're done with him and his unpredictable rooster fits.

There's No Privacy with a Toddler.

This is one of those pictures that will be cherished for generations to come.

The Deep End

I caught Dan putting this up inside our kitchen cupboard. It goes to show that his pain of losing Starbucks' extended, 7-days a week hours runs deep. On the other hand, the locally owned businesses will get a boost. At least the ones open past 4:30 will.

In other news, it seems Ana took our leaving for two days to heart. She has been refusing to sleep in her own bed for the last week and a half or so. To my delight, I might add. She never slept well in our bed, but now she sleeps like a log. And it is wonderful to have her with us all night long, although I do kind of miss me and Dan's pre-bedtime chats. We have to have those on the couch now. No big whoop. Here's our new sleeping arrangements. Note I finally got the crib situated on my side of the bed, all bungeed and pressed tight against our mattress, ready to go for Wee Wambeke. Really, our two bedrooms have turned into one bedroom and one storage room.



Having Ana with us reminds me of myself at her age. I was terrified to sleep on my own and did everything I could to tell my mom and dad so. Finally, they moved my twin into their room where I stayed for a year before I moved into another room with my aunt Pon. I was deleriously happy, and the safety and love I felt from that sacrifice of theirs has stayed with me through my adult life. I hope Ana is feeling the same way.

One step away from Scary.

Catnaps, by Dan

I don't care what Joy says, this is just too precious not to share with the entire world.

I had to take a break from Destined for Liberty and am currently really enjoying Little Heathens. What a wonderful collection of anecdotes about a woman's childhood on an Iowa farm during the depression. When I first saw the book, I admit I rolled my eyes and imagined it would be filled with filled with tragic but poignant memories. And while these books are important, there are way too many of them on the shelves right now. Instead, Little Heathens is about simple pleasures and the joy of hard work. I'm halfway through it, but already I want to heartily recommend it to everyone.

Here's a quote that made me giggle. I know it's long, but I think a lot of us can relate:

We learned the Twenty-third Psalm and the Lord's Prayer, and I'm afraid that more than a few of us recited, "Our Father who art in Heaven, Howard by Thy name" and were comforted that "Surely Good Mrs. Murphy shall follow me all the days of my life." I know that I was embarrassed into uncharacteristic silence once when, on reading from a hymn book at Aunt Belle's house, I noticed that the words were "Weak and sinful though we be," not "We can sing full though we be," as I had been singing. I never told a soul of my discovery. When, years later, I heard about the little boy who came home from church and told his mother that he had sung all about a bear who was cross-eyed and whose name was Gladly, I harbored no doubt that the story was true. What understanding could a seven-year-old boy have of "Gladly, the cross I'd bear"?

And now I really must go because my mother in law left a fresh apple pie somewhere around here last night and it might be a good idea to eat it now.