My favorite banana bread!

Looking for a delicious breakfast? This quick and easy recipe has quickly become a favorite in my house! My 3 year old often requests it for breakfast. And I love making it for him. With all common ingredients found around the house I can make this pretty much any time. I feel good giving it to him too! Much better than a doughnut :)

• 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

[I usually bake it for about 45 minutes and it turns out perfect!]

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Welcome to the world little man

This is my third baby. I knew what to expect. I was prepared, I knew it was going to be painful but I would get an amazing reward in the end. A baby! A sweet little boy or girl (this was our surprise baby, remember?) would enter the world soon and a family of four we would be no more. We were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of this little one!

The day before my little man was born. 39 Weeks pregnant

I was 39 weeks 1 day pregnant, I was fully expecting to go past my due date. I had my 39 week appointment at 11:30 am, I was surprised when he said he fully expected the baby to come in the next day or two. But he still set up the induction, just in case (I, for some reason, was still convinced I would need this appointment).

Now let me tell you, I don't feel contractions. I had what the doctors and nurses called "silent labor" with my first two boys. I went in to get induced with both of them, 3 cm dilated, never having felt a contraction. I was hooked up to monitors to discover I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes. I was given medicine to induce labor with both of them and felt contractions for about 30-40 minutes before they were born. Maybe 20 minutes of serious painful contractions.

So after my 11:30 appointment, I went back to my parents house to pick up my boys. But, because I was almost 40 weeks pregnant I was exhausted. I decided to just let them run around outside for a while longer before I started the battle of getting them in the car. I sat on the couch with my hands on my stomach.

 "Mom. I think I'm having contractions"

"You're feeling pain?"

"No, my stomach feels tight every few minutes"

So I sat there, timing the tightening in my stomach for about 20 minutes. 8 minutes. 7 minutes. 8 minutes. 10 minutes. 4 minutes. Didn't seem to regular. But my mom was convinced I was in labor. I calle dlabor and delivery, told them my story about my silents labors, they said it was up to me. I might just get there and be sent home but if I wanted to come in I could. I didn't. I was convinced it was nothing. I couldn't feel anything. It's not going to happen any time soon.

12:00- I texted my husband to let him know what the doctor said. Be ready anytime in the next few days for this baby to come.

1:00 pm- I finally start getting the boys ready to go. I needed to get home and get my hospital bag ready  in case this baby really decided to come soon.

1:05- I ran to the bathroom one last time before the 5 minute car ride home. I sit down to pee and it just kept coming out... I thought to myself "I haven't peed this much in forever!" (my bladder was squished by that big ol' baby, remember?) Then I stood up and there was a gush... This can't really be my water breaking can it? Did I just pee my pants?? There's no way I am really in labor. I am not even ready. I haven't even installed the car seat. I have so much I was planning on doing before the baby showed up. There is no way this is real. I'M NOT READY.

1:10- I finally left the bathroom. My mom was standing out in the living room "What happened? You're in labor aren't you??" I said quietly "I think my water just broke. Either that or I peed my pants. That's probably what it was. I just peed my pants" She was not convinced. I still insisted I was fine, kept getting the boys ready to head home and finish packing for hospital and install the baby's seat and clean out the van.

1:20- "You're not having this baby in my living room. We are going to the hospital!"

"fine Mom, they are probably just going to send me home but lets go"

1:30- I called my husbands work to let him know my water broke and we are going to the hospital. "No way" he says. "yes way. we are getting in the car now"

1:45 I get to the hospital and I am 4 cm. About the same as at my 11:30 appt. "see" I said, "they are going to send me home" then they checked my water.. sure enough. My water had broke. I still just couldn't believe I was about to have this baby. I was so anxious. I wanted to know if it was a boy or a girl. I wanted my favorite sweats that were still in the washer at home. I was NOT ready!!

Last pregnant picture! Walking into the hospital

2:00 My husband gets to the hospital. "You couldn't have waited a little longer? I'm off at 2:30!" Yeah thanks babe.

4:00- I got the epidural. I didn't feel contractions yet, but I knew they were coming. I waited to long with my first two and wasn't able to get it. I was getting the epidural! No way was I delivering another baby with no medicine."If I don't get the epidural, I probably won't ever want more kids" I told my husband.

5:10- The contractions were almost stopped, they decided to start pitocin to help things along. The nurse checked me, I was about 6 CM. "I hope this doesn't take all night" I said "I don't want to be in the hospital an extra day" The nurse said she would be back in an hour to check me, to give her a call if I started feeling pressure.

6:30- The nurse came back to check me. i said "I think I might be feeling some pressure. I can't really tell, it just feels weird" She checked me."Yep. You're 10. Let me go get the doctor so you can push!" My husband was in the corner on his phone. Probably on Facebook. "Did you hear her?" I asked. "No change?" He replied without looking away from his phone. "No, I'm ready. She's going to get the doctor so I can push" he was shocked "No way! You're not even in pain! This is way better than naturally, you are definitely getting an epidural from now on" "you're telling me!" I sat and talked about cloth diapers with doctor as I was getting ready to push he said. I don't really remember much. It was all a blur.

6:40- I text everyone, I am about to push!

6:53- "there's the baby" said the doctor "tell her what it is Dad!" ITS A BOY!" He said, obviously excited that he was getting his wish, 3 sons! "No way!" I said back I thought for sure it was a girl. I was excited. I wanted a boy. Just didn't expect it :)

My sweet little boy

Big brother Josh

Big brother Samuel

So there you have it my friends. 3 months later, I am finally finishing the story of my little surprise baby. I have replayed that afternoon in my head many times. I need to write it down so I don't forget, I kept thinking. Now I have. It took me about 2 hours. 15-20 minutes several different times. You know how life goes with kids. But I did it!

I stayed at the hospital 24 hours, I got to relax a little and enjoy some one on one time with my little Joseph. I loved it, but I was ready to come home to my boys! We got right back into our groove, stopped at the park with McDonald's on the way home from the hospital. Didn't miss a beat. I was out walking to the park the next day with my neighbors I felt great! "It really does get easier every time" I told myself. I LOVE EPIDURALS!

Marriage isn't for you

If only more people could figure this out... then our countries divorce rate wouldn't be so high!

Reblogged From Seth Adam Smith

"Having been married only a year and a half, I’ve recently come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.

Now before you start making assumptions, keep reading.

I met my wife in high school when we were 15 years old. We were friends for ten years until…until we decided no longer wanted to be just friends. :) I strongly recommend that best friends fall in love. Good times will be had by all.

Nevertheless, falling in love with my best friend did not prevent me from having certain fears and anxieties about getting married. The nearer Kim and I approached the decision to marry, the more I was filled with a paralyzing fear. Was I ready? Was I making the right choice? Was Kim the right person to marry? Would she make me happy?

Then, one fateful night, I shared these thoughts and concerns with my dad.

Perhaps each of us have moments in our lives when it feels like time slows down or the air becomes still and everything around us seems to draw in, marking that moment as one we will never forget."

finish the article here : Marriage isn't for you 

The baby that never complains

This, my friends, is the baby that never complains:

He doesn't complain when I leave him on the couch to go to the bathroom....
then get distracted an clean the kitchen for 20 minutes. He just falls asleep.

He doesn't complain when his aunts roll him around on the ground like a doll.
He just rolls with it :)

He doesn't complain when his cousin sticks her finger in his mouth.
He just pretends it's his thumb and sucks away.

He doesn't complain when his aunt sits on him.

He doesn't complain when his batteries die in the swing.

He just goes to sleep.

The Lord must have known I needed an easy going baby. I love this sweet little guy and his relaxed attitude! 

I should be sleeping...

Some nights the only way I get a minute to myself is to stay up to late. If you're a mom, you probably know what I mean. Sometimes, when you're a mom (especially one of 3 boys, 3 and under) you need to stay up until 11 to hear the silence. Yes, I am laying bed right now, listening to NOTHING. This is the first time all day, since 6:55 this morning, I haven't had someone crying to me "he pinched me", the first time I haven't had my 2 year old begging me to hold him, and the first time my almost 3 month old is sleeping. On his own. Not in my arms. I am LOVING it.

I always lay on bed and dream of what I'm going to do someday... I found this awesome idea on Pinterest, and I have been wanting to break out my sewing machine for a while to do this with a few of my tank tops. I also wanna get creative and make my own cloth diapers.. I've done a couple, they aren't the best, but I love making them. Simply because it's ME time I don't get enough me time these days. If I get a shower alone I am one happy mama :)

Well now that you know what I lay in bed and dream about at night, I should probably get to sleep! My 3 year olds bus is here at 9 am, so I need to be up and at em early tomorrow.

What do you do after your kitties are all asleep and you have a few minutes of peace and quiet? Watch that special show? Go straight to bed? Take a long bubble bath?? The options are endless... It's the getting to that point that makes it so worth it :)

It's not all kisses and pinterest crafts

You know how you imagine what your life will be like? Like, when your young and think "someday the perfect man will com along, we will have perfect little children. Those children will always be clean and well dressed, say "please" and "thank you" and you will love every moment with them. You won't even have to work to keep the house clean because your perfect little children will LOVE having chores, and everything will be fine and dandy. We all have had these dreams right? Well maybe I was just crazy, maybe it't not normal to think like that. But I did. I have always wanted to be a mom. For real, as long as I can remember that's all I wanted.

Now here I am. 3 kids later.

Life is crazy.

I have been told 3 is the hardest number of kids to have. I believe it.

I can't wait for bed time every evening. I literally could cry if nap time doesn't happen. I NEED nap time. Don't get me wrong. I love my boys. They are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Every one always says "these days go by to fast". Lately, I wish they would go by faster! Does that make me a bad mom? I don't think so. I have a 2 and 3 year old that literally spend 90% of their day making the other one mad. Pleeeease tell me why I would want this day to go any slower than it already is?!

I go on pinterest and see all these fun craft ideas, fun games to play and educational activities to do, to make my kids little geniuses. I make these plans to do something with them every day. something that will make them smarter. But usually it doesn't happen. And when it does, there are a lot more tears and fits than I had anticipated. At the end of the night, I look back and feel like I am not as good of a mom as I should be. My 3 year old can't write his name or say his ABC's. What am I doing wrong? I must be messing these kids up so bad... I tell myself that constantly.

But honestly! My kids are LOVED. That very same 3 year old that can't write his name, tells me at least 20 times a day that he loves me. He gives me kisses and hugs and asks me to play legos and licoln logs with him. My 2 year old throws a fit if I don't hold his hand every time we get out of the car.

Is that messed up? I don't think so.

Just because I am not living a pinterest life, and my house isn't always clean doesn't mean we don't have a happy life. There is too much yelling, a lot of fighting and I can't wait for this crabby stage to pass. But when it does, I will miss it I'm sure. I will wish they were young again, wish they wanted to hold my hands and give me kisses. But seriously, don't tell me I will miss it. Because right now? I just want a nap.

The story of my life.

Day 1: The story of your life in 250 words or less 

I was born, a baby, like most people :) I am the 3rd child in my family. When I was around 7 my parents decided to adopt, another boy since we had two girls and one boy. They just finalized their 8th adoption on valentines day of this year. I lived in the same house from the time I was born, until I moved to Japan with my husband when I was 18. I met my husband when I was 13, started dating him when I was 15 and married him 2 months after I turned 18. We have been married just over 6 years and it was the best decision I have ever made! We lived in Japan for 3 years because my husband was in the Army, came home to Minnesota to have our first son then moved to Texas for 10 months. My husband got out of the army in 2010 and we moved home to Minnesota. We now have two boys, ages 2 and 3 and baby number 3 will be here any day! I live a normal life, doing my best to raise my kids right. We have an amazing family that loves and supports us. We go to an awesome church where we are trying to get more involved.  My days are filled with crying toddlers and messy kisses, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am in love with my husband and he is an amazing father to our boys, and I am excited to grow old with him by my side. I love my life!  

and that my friends is the story of my life in 250 words!  (or 264... but who's counting?) Stop by tomorrow for day 2 of my 31 day blogging challenge. Did you do day one of the challenge? Leave a comment with the link and I will stop by and leave some love!