Home sweet together: January in a Nutshell

January was pretty crazy for me- so I think Nutshell is a good way to sum it up. So much happened- besides being 5 months pregnant, I trained 2 puppies in 2 weeks time which involved going up and down the stairs 40 times a day, a week-long trip in Oklahoma, dealing with insurance problems involving 2 cancelled ultrasounds, scary paperwork, and being on the phone for hours, a couple photo shoots, a doggy house call where people had been having problems with their 2 year-old dog and I ended up pushing the right buttons- which means I got bit :(, my birthday, finding out we are moving in the end of July to Oklahoma...with an 8 week old baby...excited about the adventure, but also a little overwhelmed, traveling to Rochester for a bridal shower, etc, etc... It was a long, exhausting month, with a lot of stuff going on that was hard to deal with.
Thankfully I have pictures to remember the great moments- one of the reasons I love being a photographer!! It helps you remember the good times and how blessed you are and forget about some of the not so good memories.

Playing in the church basement with their nerf guns that we got them for Christmas!

Fun times with the puppies that were here for training.

We got a little peak at our 18 week old before we left for our trip. :-)

Getting so much bigger...even though I still can't make much out.

After the Dr Appointment, we took advantage of some of the nice weather and found a couple bookstores. Peter smiles his biggest in bookstores.

Our one "normal" Saturday, I made these life-changing

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes! They are SO sweet, but SO good. We use whole wheat pancake mix instead of the pancake mix recipe...not that if feels healthy once it is soaked in that butter and cream cheese!!! The picture on the right is Peter's reaction to how good they were...and possibly a sugar overdose.

Oklahoma Trip

48 hours in the van. Pregnant. Enough said.


Heartland Baptist Bible College

All the preachers in the ministry that were attending for the Home Missions Conference.

Witness- the college ensemble that my sister and brother in law sing on

YUMMY Italian restaurant that Peter took me and the couple that was hosting us to.

20 weeks- Halfway already!! I LOVE feeling that little one move inside me! :-)

I got to visit Rachel when she was working at Auntie Anne's- she's so cute! And- I got a free pretzel!

On the trip home- someone had a morbid sense of humor.

One of the prettiest sunsets I have ever seen!

I couldn't wait to cook again when we got home from Oklahoma- you can only eat out so much. The night after we got home we had a missionary's family over with some friends from church. I made these to-die-for oatmeal creme pies. If you let them, and I highly recommend it, they will change how you think of cookies! Unfortunately my guests were full from dinner, so they left me with way too many of these in the freezer. I GORGED. And I haven't really regretted it!

SO good to be back home!

A meal I felt SO good about making. I have a new respect for missionaries and evangelists that are on the road so much and don't get the good home cooking they probably are used to.

French onion Pork chops, green beans, brown rice, and mashed potatoes.

My house was a DISASTER from the dogs being here, than traveling, and some baby items given to us. It was out. of. control. The day after we got home I attacked our room to try to bring it some order.

Before After

My 26th birthday!

My husband made my first married birthday so special.

Flowers and breakfast in bed, presents, happy birthday in different languages at that country's time of my actual birth. Sigh. :-)

My inlaws threw me a family party with some really good food and cake! I even got balloons!

I was so excited- there was a 2 for 1 deal at my favorite frozen yogurt store on my birthday night. :-)

I ate both- every bite! It was SO good!

My lens mug that my honey got me. :-)

On my way to dog training- had to take a picture of the beautiful Grand Central Station.

First snow I'd seen since I have been here. So pretty!

I promise I don't only eat sweets- believe it or not before January sugar wasn't really agreeing with me. Now I can't get enough fruit, especially! My new favorite creation is bananas, strawberries, granola, cool whip, and hot fudge. MMmmmmm.