Vomit, Throw-up, Nausea, Puke etc.

I'd like to state for the record how truly blessed and happy I am that God has seen fit to place another little angel in our care. The changes taking place inside my body right now are nothing short of a miracle. This is exactly what I wanted and God didn't hesitate or make me wait long at all for this little miracle to take place. I know there are many women who would gladly trade places with me and this fact is something that I don't take lightly.

Now, having said that...

I feel so bad. I thought this pregnancy was going to be different. I thought maybe - just maybe - I wouldn't be sick this time. I exercised. I ate healthy foods. I tried prepping my body mentally and physically to feel good.

No such luck.

I am in the throes of morning sickness and it's about to kick my butt. Everything stinks. Everything makes me nauseous. You know the sweet smell of your child's neck? That smell that makes you grab your baby, bury your nose in his neck, and just sniff and squeeze him???? THAT SMELL makes me sick right now. The nauseous feeling I get from foods and cologne I can deal with but THAT SMELL, well, I've cried over that one.

Thank you, Lord, for this pregnancy.

Please ease this morning sickness so I can sniff my Garrett's neck.

Amen.

Fake Surprise vs Real Surprise

My sister threw herself a surprise birthday party this year. Why, you ask? Basically, because she's cool like that. As soon as I found out I was expecting baby #2, I knew this occasion would be the perfect time to tell her. A REAL surprise for her FAKE surprise birthday party.

Video 1: Fake Surprise

Video 2: Real Surprise

BIG NEWS

We are very excited to announce that our family will be growing by one next year! Baby Harrison #2 is due August 6, 2010. Please pray for our new little one on the way and his/her mama because morning sickness is about to get the best of her!

Happy Birthday Sister!

I'd have to say, the greatest Christmas present I've ever received came to me December 1983. My parents gave me a real live baby doll, my little sister, Mindy.

Not only did my parents give me a baby to love and play with, they gave me my truest, best, greatest, #1 friend forever.
No one knows me like this girl does and I know she's always got my back.

She's been there for me through the break-ups, hook-ups, or when I've just needed to vent. We share so many of the same interests and passions yet we are also SO very different.

I know she loves me and will always tell it like it is.

Thank you Lord for giving me Mindy.

Without her my life would be so empty.

Mindy,

This world would be a less colorful and exciting place without you in it.

I am so happy and blessed to have you as my sister and friend.

I love you more than you'll ever know.

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Ang.

St. Nick

We took Garrett to see Santa this past Saturday. I didn't know how Garrett would react to the jolly old elf but after a few minutes he warmed right up and Santa was even able to get a smile out of my boy. Justin and I had been out and about all afternoon and for some reason neglected to change our son's extremely wet diaper. It wasn't until after this photo shoot that we looked down at his stroller seat and then at the back of his pants to see a soaking wet mess.

Oh well, sorry Santa!

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney With Care

I decided to get crafty and make Christmas stocking this year. My mom did the same for us many years ago and it was always so special to me.

I'm such a beginner with my sewing machine. I wanted to give up and throw them away several times. I pushed through, finishing them anyway. I had them monogrammed and added a little trim.

They're far from perfect but I'm happy with them just the same.

(Don't look too close...haha!)

Cousins

Garrett: "Hayden, wave to the camera like this."

Hayden: "Nope. I don't want to."

Garrett: "Come on, Hayden! See how I'm waving? Do it like this."

Hayden: "Okay, fine. You mean like this?"

Garrett: "Umm, yeah...that's great. Point taken."

Sweetness

Gingerbread House

I thought it would be fun to construct a gingerbread house this holiday season. I've never done it before so while Sierra was over at the house, I decided to put her to work as my assistant.

Oh, the gingerbread dough smelled soooo good! It took all I had not to shove a big ole hunk of it right in my mouth. Have I ever told you about my strange love and weakness for dough? Biscuit dough, cookie dough, cake batter, cornbread batter, any kind of dough, any kind of batter...I love it all. I know it may sound nasty but I've eaten that stuff all my life. My mama tried to stop me by telling me it would give me worms. Do you think that stopped me? HA! Ask my husband. He thinks I've lost my mind when he walks into the kitchen and sees me with a mouth full of biscuit dough. Anyway...moving on.

I found a basic gingerbread house template on the Internet and used it to cut out all the pieces.

After baking the gingerbread, I let it sit over night on the counter so it would be nice and hard when it was time to construct our house.

Once the house was standing (after a few bumps and hiccups), Mrs. Marilyn, Sierra, and I had so much fun adding all the extras. Let me tell ya, the creativity was a flowing in that kitchen! We were squealing and giggling like little girls over our ideas.Garrett wanted to get his hands on that house some kinda bad! He spent most of his time down by our feet like a little vulture waiting for any candy that we dropped.

A little "snow" on top for the finishing touch.

Isn't it darling?!?!

We had a blast putting this gingerbread house together. However, I have asked my mother-in-law to pop me upside my head if I try to attempt this again next year. Whew!

New Moon

Saturday afternoon, Sierra and I donned our Twilight shirts, howled at the moon, and then headed over to Wilmington to catch the matinee viewing of New Moon, the second instalment of the Twilight saga. She and I are both "Twihards" and there's no one else I'd rather experience the movie with than her. She understands the drama between Bella, Edward, and Jacob. She understands how awesome vampires and werewolves are.

She and I see eye to eye on these matters.

I can't wait til the next movie.

Sierra, next time let's wear glitter so we sparkle. YEAH!

Pumpkin Roll

We love pumpkin desserts, especially this time of year. Pumpkin pie is definitely Justin's favorite but I'd say pumpkin roll is a close second. It has a cream cheese filling and a bit more sugar than the pumpkin pie but, hey, it's the holidays!

Cake Ingredients:

3 eggs, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2/3 cup pumpkin (canned or fresh), 3/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 2 tsp cinnamon

Mix eggs and sugar well; add pumpkin.
I like to give my dry ingredients a good sift to get out any lumps.
Fold in dry ingredients.
(Please notice the lovely scar on my right wrist.
You can read about that story here.)
Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. I find this works better than just a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
Once it's baked and warm right out of the oven, loosen from parchment paper, lay on towel, and roll it up. Set it aside until it's cooled completely.

Filling Ingredients:
1 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature), 4 tbs butter (room temperature), 1 cup powder sugar, 1tsp vanilla

Mix together filling ingredients; add vanilla.

Unroll cooked pumpkin roll and spread on all that glorious, delicious filling.

Roll it up as tight as possible, wrap in parchment paper and foil, then place pumpkin roll into the freezer.

I serve it right out of the freezer. We find that texture more appealing than room temperature. Sometimes I sift a little powdered sugar on top to make it all perdy but since it already has 2 cups of sugar in it, I opted to skip those extra calories ;)

YUMMY!

He Likes a Little Hush Puppy With His Butter

Thank You

I would just like to say thank you to all our veterans past and present who have served our wonderful country. There's one United States Marine I'm especially proud of today who was recently awarded Rookie Recruiter of the Year. It was none other than my big brother, Staff Sergeant Toby J. Cascioli!

I am so very proud of you and honored to have you as a brother. I love you Chee-Chay!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Six Years

Justin and I celebrated our 6th year of marriage this past Sunday.

Mindy kept Garrett for us so we could have lunch together. We wanted to try some place new, something romantic. When lunch time rolled around, it was rainy, cold, and we were starving. At that moment, we weren't feeling very adventurous. So, we went to good ole Outback Steakhouse. It never disappoints.
After lunch, we rode to the mall so I could pick out my gift :)

Before heading back, we stopped at Cold Stone for a sweet treat.

Justin,

I feel so very lucky

to have you in my life.

I've never been more happy

than the day I became your wife.

Garrett is the proof

on how well we work together.

I thank God every single day

that you'll be in my life forever.

Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Angie

Pumpkin Carving

Believe it or not, I've never carved a pumpkin. I'm sure my parents carved pumpkins with us kids growing up but I can't remember ever doing it on my own. Garrett and I thought his pumpkin needed a little personality so we decided to give it a shot.

I drew on the face and Garrett scooped out the seeds. Well, he "helped" me scoop out the seeds.
I tried getting him to stick his hand down in there to pull all that stringy mush and seeds out. HE DID NOT LIKE THAT STUFF ON HIS HANDS!

Garrett loved "talking" to his pumpkin once he was completed and all lit up.

I had so much fun doing this with my boy. I think we'll have to make it a tradition.

Garrett-O-Lantern 2009