Mckinley Elizabeth is here!

Mckinley Elizabeth (Kinley for short) came this morning at 9:31 am. She's 7 lbs 0 oz. and 20 inches long. So tiny! She is perfect and so cute! I started having contractions yesterday afternoon around 3:00, but they were all over the place--between 4 and 10 mins apart. Finally, at 2:00 am they started coming every 2-3 mins and I could go to the hospital. Once we got there, I got all hooked up and got my epidural and it was smooth sailing. She basically slid out of me when the time came. I think I gave 2 tiny little pushes. No tearing! It was an awesome birth. So far, I have felt great (besides being sleepy--I got NO sleep during the labor). I'm hoping I can even go home tomorrow night.
The name--we actually changed it at the last minute. Yesterday morning we decided on Mckinley because we just thought Maebel wasn't cheery enough. We wanted something a little more spunky. We just kind of came up with it and went with it! I like it because it sounds kind of geographical and adventurous! Kinley must like it too, because as soon as we changed it, she decided to come!

Something New

I've been experimenting with new dinner recipes lately. They are usually things I find in a cookbook or magazine and then modify based on what I actually have. I've gotten to where I don't measure ingredients so much (who really wants to dirty up the teaspoons anyway?), so sometimes the meals taste a little different. Here's one I tried last night (I adapted it from a recipe I found in Real Simple):

Tortellini with Squash and Peppers

olive oil
squash and/or zucchini, chopped
red and green bell peppers, chopped
salt and pepper
4 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 lb. frozen or fresh cheese tortellini (this will feed about 3 people)
1 tsp. parsley (I used dried, so use more if you are using fresh)
1/2 cup mozzarella
frozen meatballs or meat of your choice

>Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped up squash, zucchini and bell peppers, meatballs, salt and pepper (to taste). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies begin to soften, 6-8 mins.

>Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue cooking, stirring, for another minute.

>Add the broth and tortellini. Cover and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini are cooked through and most of the broth is absorbed, 12-15 mins.

>Fold in the parsley and half of the cheese. Spoon into bowls and top with remaining cheese.

Today, I am going to make more beerocks. They are so yummy! It's takes a little time to make them (mostly waiting for the dough to rise), but once you're done you have homemade lunches for a couple of weeks!
I have to mention--Finn was a holy terror last night because he skipped his nap, but he's making up for it today. I've been trying to let him play more by himself and do things for himself since I won't be as available soon. He spent a lot of the morning in his room reading to himself. So cute! He just goes through his books and "reads" them outloud. It's amazing how quick he memorizes them! I found him reading one today that we just got at the library yesterday.

Cleaning Up

After nearly 2 weeks of rain, our backyard desperately needed some TLC. We spent the morning working on it a little. Here's Finn and Daddy raking together:

My garden perked up from all the rain! I've actually got squash and peppers growing again!

I've been growing these ALL summer and this is as big as they've gotten!:

Whenever we play outside, I just let Finn get as dirty as he wants. Once he gets into the sandbox, I know it's a lost cause to keep him clean. I like to think that I'll let Baby Girl do the same, but it seems like girly clothes are more easily ruined (all that pink, yellow and white, ya know). I'll have to remember to save some of Finn's things for her to play in:

Lastly, we did a little finger painting yesterday. I finally dragged Finn's easel inside. He's a cute little Picasso!:

Dangit! She stole my baby name!

I so thought that Gwen and I would be in synch on this one. Maybe Baby Girl and little rocker boy will get married instead.
And Mom--don't freak, I'm joking about the name :)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/20080821/en_music_eo/25288

Mama's Nights Out!

The rain has really been making me sleepy lately, but that hasn't stopped me from partying! (sort of). Sunday I finally dragged myself out to see Mamma Mia! with Nicolette and Kristal. The movie was SO good. THAT is the way to make a movie out of a band's songs (not Across the Universe--very disappointing since I'm a big Beatles fan). We even went out for dessert afterward! Then, last night, my Mom's group had a Mom's Night Out in part to celebrate all the new babies that will soon be arriving in our group or that have already come. One of the other ladies in my group is due with twin girls the same week as me! Wendy, the girl that threw the party was such a great hostess! She's very crafty and had some great food. There were even gifts! Wendy made the cute little diaper cake herself! I have such a nice Mommy group!

Anyway, now it is time to brag a little! My hubby is so great! I'm sure all of you that know Scott know this already, but he really is pretty outstanding. When I came home Sunday, he had totally cleaned the house (something that just seems to escape me everyday). In fact, usually when he's left to himself, I come home to a clean house. He's also so cool about letting me get my "me" time and go out. We've been glued to the hip since we met 9 years ago, so it's always kind of hard to let the other out alone. He's been very good about taking care of me through this pregnancy (and before too). He's Super Hubby and I hope he knows it!

Finn's also been doing some impressive stuff lately. His new favorite thing is to count. Just over and over he'll count (usually to about 14 before he falls off). Today he was counting (lightpoles? grass? I don't know what?) on the way to the Omniplex. Also, it seems like his vocabulary has exploded again. He's so much better at telling me what he wants or what is wrong. This does backfire at times though. At least 10 times a day he lets me know that he wants a fruit bar or sucker. It's nice that he can communicate this, but it's not so nice that I have to refuse it more times than I can just give him one!

Here's a cute video of him and his little buddy Noah chasing each other at the Omniplex. He loves to be chased!

AFTERMATH

Finn got so many great presents! He really loves all his new toys and has been playing with them non-stop! His one true love of the television has been replaced with Woody and Buzz action figures (He loves to make them kiss). If he suddenly notices they aren't within arm's reach, he'll start asking, "Buddy? Buss?" and have to go find them. I think the cuteness of it all ended though when he threw a huge fit for Scott about not being able to take them on a grocery run.

We have been searching for a french memo board for Baby Girl's room and I couldn't find just what I wanted, so I made one! It was probably the easiest thing I've done all week!

Also, my friend Melissa found this cute canopy for the crib (or, as it is, playpen). It goes perfectly in baby girl's room! We are getting ready to have her anytime now. She has unfortunately been making things very painful for me this week so I'm getting about ready to evict her!

Best Birthday Ever!

Finn had the most amazing birthday Thursday! I think it was the time of his so-far short little life! He loved Chuck E. Cheese and he loved seeing all his little friends. I tried to prepare him for it all day, but I don't think he "got it" until we pulled up to the restaurant. It was a blast and I am so glad that everyone could come and celebrate!

I will try to update with a video, but I must say: THE SECURITY PROTECTION ON MY COMPUTER IS INSANE!!!! Everytime I try to upload a pic or video here I have to CONSTANTLY click on a dozen acceptance pop-ups. Once I figure out how to stop this, hopefully I can add a cute video of Finn blowing out his candles.

We are officially in love with Blue's Clues again :)

I AM SO BORED

I have nothing to read and I am so bored right now! The library is backed up on all my reserves and there is absolutely nothing on television! It's funny how since Finn was born I have slowly become less and less of a tv junkie. It just isn't worth my time anymore (even though I clearly have nothing else to do with it).
I watched Chocolat the other day and since then I have been trying to come up with a list of my favorite movie characters. I just LOVE Juliette Binoche in that movie! Espiecially the way that she says "We don't attend" when the Count asks her to join them for church. So nonchalant.
The only other character I can think of is Scarlett O'Hara, but that is SUCH a given!
I love Diane Keaton in about anything where she plays a mother, espiecially Father of the Bride. I hope I am that confident, relaxed, comforting, hip type. Except I really didn't like The Family Stone. I couldn't even sit through that one.
When I expand to TV, I can think of so many more people. There's Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica (the new one).
Miranda Hobbes from Sex & the City.
Jonny Fairplay from Survivor (not exactly a fictional character--and SO disappointing when he voted himself out of the Fans v. Favorites edition).
I guess that's about all I can think of right now. Blah. I have to go find something to do until Finn wakes up!

Rainy Day

I actually made something my friends haven't tried yet (at least not to my knowledge)! It's these little oatmeal/peanut butter balls that I found in my Wondertime magazine. All you do is mix:

1 c. peanut butter

1 c. honey

3 c. old-fashioned oats

1/2 c. ground flaxseed

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. any combination of nuts and soft dried fruit (I used peanuts, raisens and dried cranberries. I chopped them up real good in the food processor first to prevent choking)

Then you just roll them into little balls and put in the fridge for a few hours. It makes about 40 of them, so I actually halved the recipe. I've already had 4! I finally went to the grocery store and I bought the stuff to make Nicolette's beerocks later this week.

Anyway, this weekend we went to a little party where there was crafts and I made Finn a crown for his birthday. He didn't want to take it off! He kept saying "KING KING" (Leos DO expect to be treated like royalty). He even slept with it on (until I got too scared he would wake up and eat the stickers--I took it off him after he fell asleep). Of course, he's already ripped all the stickers off, so we'll see if it makes it to the birthday party or not.

Scott and I took Finn to the zoo yesterday, but we only stayed about an hour. It was SO hot! Here's a couple of cute shots of Finn by his Nemo fish and the turtle shell (I just can't resist posting pics of my preggo self)!

I'm gonna get this Suzy Homemaker stuff someday...

Today I made bread! I am such a copycat, I know. I was inspired by my friends Nicolette and Kristal who started making bread too. I was spooning Finn his Spagettios and thought, "I should really try making him something that doesn't come out of a can or bag" and therefore I tried baking! Of course, I am fairly certain he will not even touch it (he'll probably just give me his curt little "no" and turn his head), but at least I tried! It's just a very simple wheat bread out of my Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, but it doesn't taste too bad. It took forever to make though! Now I know why Nicolette devotes a whole day to this baking stuff! You have to mix and knead and let it rise and then basically do that all over again. It took all morning, but at least it made me feel useful!
Anyway, here I am with just 3 1/2 weeks to go!:

My Escape Artist

I called the doc about my EKG results today and they said they came back just fine. I hadn't had any chest pain for a few days, so I wasn't too worried. It was nice to know though. I am 36 weeks and I have to to the doc every week now. I'm hoping she checks me for dialation tomorrow, but I'm not getting my hopes up about anything (maybe a little).We went to the Science Museum with Kristal and Nicolette this morning. I think all the boys had a good time. At one point, we were inside the kid's area, which is totally enclosed with a gate and everything and I see Finn and Noah off on the other side of the building, just wandering around together! I couldn't believe they had gotten out! They must have slipped out when someone else came in. Truthfully, they were sort of cute-like little partners in crime. THEN, later I was getting a lot of sciatic leg pain, so I checked on Finn and then sat down, and NOT EVEN 2 MINS LATER, he had disappeared again! I got a little frantic looking for him because I was afraid he might have gotten on the elevator, but then he came sliding down the 3 story slide! The slide appears to be very safe with totally enclosed stairs, so it wasn't a major issue, but I couldn't believe he did it all by himself! I walked him up the stairs so I could see him do it again and he was so cute. He sort of laid on his back and "walked" himself slowly down the slide while holding onto the center pole (it's a spiral slide). It was a very slow process!
Anyway, we have pretty much finished up Baby Girl's room, so I've posted a few new pictures. All we really have left is to put up her name letters on the wall, which of course we will be doing AFTER she is born.

"Me" Time

I had such a lovely day! I love Finn, but I was childless for the day! Sharyn took Finn to the Science Museum and I got the morning to myself! I went shopping and then out to lunch with my friend Tonya and her kids, Starla and Roman. I wish I had brought a camera to show how cute they were! Roman was dressed up as Harry Potter and Starla was adorable in her little girly dress. We went to this tea room and had such a great time! It was just a perfect day!

Early Birthday!

We had a little party at the park this morning with my mom's group for Finn's birthday. He got a little practice in blowing out candles and everyone sang him the Birthday Song. I think he enjoyed it!

Nothing New

My doc hasn't called me back about the EKG, but they are usually pretty slow with that stuff. I'm not comfortable taking the over the counter heartburn medicine she gave me, even though it seemed to help (at least for a day). Therefore, the chest pain is back! Anyway, I started having Braxton Hicks contractions today! I know they are fake and they are sort of a pain in the butt, but it's a little exciting! Maybe something is going on down there! I can't have her until the 22nd though, because I really want Baby Girl to be a Virgo! There's nothing wrong with Leos, but I already have one of those and I thought it would be so cool if she was a Virgo like me! I highly doubt that she'll be early anyway. I've been trying to prep myself for going overdue because I remember thinking Finn would be early and it was SO HARD to go a week overdue with him! I nearly went nuts!