JAM!

It's a summer tradition in our family to make strawberry jam. Ever since I can remember, Nana has made jam to last our WHOLE family last the year through! This is incredible, seeing as Sean goes through about a jar a day. I might be exaggerating. But seriously, that kid eats PB&Js like nobody's business!
Every time Lindsay and/or Rach come home from Utah, what do they make sure and take back with them? Strawberry jam. 

What is requested when we drive out to Utah to visit them? Strawberry jam.
What is served at dinners with Nana's homemade bread? Strawberry jam.
We love this stuff :)

Step 1: Start with succulent Santa Maria jam berries, wash.

Step 2: Mash!

Step 3: Add zee sugar

Step 4: Let sit, add pectin. Stir, stir, stir. My mom teased me about my face when I was on hour 3 of jam making and stirring as I stared off into space. I looked thrilled I guess ;)

Step 5: Pour into containers and put in Nana & Bobba's freezer!

Sandy says, "You guys are boring...just in the kitchen working all day. Play with me!" 

Hooray for strawberry jam 2009!

Next summer, little Ada will be there with us learning the ways of jam making :)

Click here to hear the song I was singing all day...throwback to jazz dance class '93!

Stakeout

At my mom's on Sunday, this is what took place. A stakeout. Three hunters luring out their prey..."gaining their trust," as Sean put it. Hold very, very still.

Sandy! You moved! Now the rats will never come out of the bougainvillea to eat the peanut butter. Yup, the back bougainvillea bush has a lair a la The Rats of NIMH.

The plan is to gain their trust then exterminate them. I'm surprised the neighborhood cats haven't done something about them yet. Sandy is too slow...she just barks them back into their secret lair!
My mom was on the phone with Lindsay giving her a play-by-play on the action.
Yes, we are easily entertained :)

23 Weeks!

Here I am after church yesterday at 5 3/4 months pregnant. I feel fabulous! A little more tired than usual, but that's to be expected. Ada is getting stronger and stronger every day, and she lets me know it all day long with her kicks and acrobatics. She's an active one, which I am grateful for...it's very reassuring to feel her boppin' around in there :)

4th of July!

We had a wonderful day celebrating our nation's freedom.

First, Matt and I headed down to Lompoc to join the Millers for yummy burgers, juicy watermelon, Shrek corn (ask Ryan about that one), and badminton! Don't mind me hitting it over the fence...oops!

Of course we forgot our camera. I'm forgetting lots of stuff these days...pregnancy brain is real! Matt was so sad because he wanted to document the momentous occasion! The last time he remembers his family doing something like this was Thanksgiving when he was 7 years old. It was wonderful :)

In the evening, we drove to the beach to watch the fireworks with some of my family visiting from Kansas.

Here is Matt telling his riveting story of Francis Scott Key to Jessie, Becca, Chris, Daniel, Colleen, and my mom.

Two of my beautiful cousins, Becca and Jessie.

The best accidental picture ever!

And the beautiful fireworks at Oceano. It was great because we had these right over our head, and could see Pismo's show down the coast as well.

Some people ditched their fire, so we swooped in and took it over! We sang Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, & Foo Fighters songs accompanied by Matt on guitar. It was a perfect day!

5 1/2 Month Papaya

22 weeks along!


A picture of Mommy & Ada at the beach :) You have to start 'em young, right?!

21 Weeks

This was last week, but for documentation's sake:

5 months!

How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Gained 2 lbs! Yay! 
Maternity clothes? Love my maternity jeans, still wearing all of my other normal clothes.
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Interrupted by one potty break a night. 
Best moment this week: Finding out we're having a baby GIRL!
Movement: All the time! Midwife & ultrasound tech say she is VERY active and strong.

Food cravings: Made Matt go to the store and buy me Klondike bars the other night :)
Gender: Female!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button in or out? Still in, but it is getting bigger. So bizarre. 
What I miss: Sleeping on my tummy. 
What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery! 
Weekly Wisdom: Eat and drink all the time. Otherwise you get dizzy. 
Milestones: Making it to the half-way point and seeing our baby girl on the ultrasound. She is healthy, perfect, and beautiful!

It's a...

GIRL!
Ada Elizabeth Miller is healthy and right on track! She weighs about 10 oz. and her heart has 4 chambers...all measurements looked wonderful. You can see her sweet little lips and nose in her profile. I feel like she's already a chunk, look at her little belly! Love it. Also, she moves constantly. The tech said, "I'm chasing her!" I was amazed that there was a foot all the way up by my ribs!
Her hand is up on her forehead, as if to say, "It's been a hard day." :)
Matt told me yesterday morning that every time he pictures the baby, it's a little girl. He could never see a baby boy. So he wins! We are all thrilled!!!