Give it your all!

So much for resolving to post more frequently!

I go through fits where I wonder why I even have a blog.  It's not because I think that blogging is silly-- in fact there a quite a few blogs out there that I enjoy reading, but those are usually blogs with helpful tips and hints for saving money or making delicious meals or DIYing.  I've tried to post some of those things, but truth-be-told I hardly have time to do those things, let alone blog about them.

But here I am blogging.  Nate is in bed (we just completed our bath, bottle and book routine, although he didn't stay awake for the book part) and I have so many things that I want to get done, that I am overwhelmed.  So, I suppose you could say that I am procrastinating.  And I am not a procrastinator.

But on to the reason I am blogging: I had an epiphany.

Or something like an epiphany.

One of my goals for this year is to get back in shape.  Not body shape-wise, but cardiovascular and strength-wise.  I have always enjoyed running 5Ks in the spring and summer, but now it's been well over a year since my last one.  The Marion Arts 5K is a yearly favorite for me, in part because it takes me back to the days when Austin and I were interested in each other (but not yet dating).  It was an awkward time in our relationship, but at the same time it was so thrilling and exciting.  After running the race the first year we knew each other we walked around downtown Marion together.  It was perfect.  So for some reason the Marion Arts Festival 5K is important to me.  And I am going to run it again this year.

Or the half-marathon.

Austin is planning on running the half and I think that would be a challenging, yet reachable, goal for me.  So the training has begun.  Today was my long-run day and I set a goal for 5 miles on the treadmill (a distance that is longer than I have ever ran on a treadmill.  I hate treadmills.  When I run on a treadmill I feel like gerbil or a mouse and it's near impossible to keep from getting bored).  Last week I had a goal for 5 miles and did not reach it and at the beginning of my run it appeared I would face the same fate: failure to meet my goal.   Mile one was easy, but as I passed the one mile mark I found myself coming up with excuses to quit early.  I thought for sure that I would stop short of my goal.  But every mile I convinced myself that I could go one more.  And before I knew it I was at mile 4.  And by that time, there was no turning back.  Mile 5 came and went and I exceeded my goal.  And it was exhilarating.

As I was driving home I was thinking about how accomplished I felt.  Tired and sore, yes, but more importantly I felt that I could do almost anything.  I had a renewed energy and a desire to give everything "my all."  It reminded me of 1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.


Obviously this doesn't just apply to running but to life in general.  I don't want to give things half-effort.  I want to give my all--run to get the prize--in everything I do.  That doesn't necessarily mean I will succeed in everything (although it may increase my chances), but rather it means that I will try hard and give all my time, energy and focus--100%--to the task at hand.  Whether that is giving quality time to God during my quiet times, giving all my attention to Nate when it's play-time, or even just relaxing when the time comes to kick back (yes, it's important to give your all to observing Sabbath...that's another topic I want to tackle soon.)

I suppose I could go on, but this post is getting long and I think you are probably getting the idea:

Give it your all!

And here are a few pics of little Nate giving play-time his all!

Nate loves to sit up all by himself.  What a big boy!

A little post-play time stretching!

More holidays. More pictures. Part II

Now I am playing catch up since I took a two week (or more) long hiatus from the blog and I've got more pictures from Christmas.

Most guys are excited to get video games, electronics or firearms (Austin would be excited to get the latter) for Christmas, but my husband was eagerly awaiting this Christmas gift:

Yes, that's right: a new vacuum cleaner!!

Austin should consider modeling home appliances for SEARS 

I know what you are thinking...where can I get one of these?  Sears.  Oh wait, you were drooling over my  housekeeping husband!! (don't tell him I said that because he may just stop vacuuming...)

We needed a new vacuum cleaner, especially since Jag is now spending more time in the house.  (He spends the evenings in the house, usually laying by the fireplace...doesn't that sound nice?)  I am not 100% on board with dogs in the house--especially since I have allergies-- but I told Austin that I would agree to it if:

A. The dog stayed off the carpet
B. Austin brushed the dog daily (or close to daily)
C. Austin kept the floors clean

And I am happy to say that I have not had to vacuum or sweep the floors (with the exception of the kitchen) since we've had the dog.  Way to go honey!  You are great!

So, Cailey is happy because the floors are clean and Austin is happy because Jag is happy:

Happy to be inside.

Well, Nate has fallen asleep on me and I'm craving a little cuddling time, so that's it for this post.  But don't worry, I have much more to post.  Maybe tomorrow!  ;)  I will leave you this this photo.  Nate looks so tired, but he was sitting up on his own for long periods of time when Austin took this picture!  My little guy is growing up so fast!

Playing with his Christmas toys!

More holidays. More pictures.

I have been meaning to take the time to update you, but it seems that at the end of the day the list of things that didn't get done (including a blog post) is so long I can't seem to rationalize getting on the computer and getting lost in blog-land.

Oh.  And another reason why I haven't had time to update my blog is because I've fallen in love with a new internet sensation: Pintrest.  I have found that it is so easy to spend an hour or more searching this website and getting great ideas for things I will probably never have time to do (because instead of actually doing these things, I just continue to surf the web for more great ideas...)

Here is my Pinterest pin board (or whatever you call it).  I am mostly using the site to store recipes that I have tried and those that I want to try.  Check it out...I have found some great recipes!  And as I type, I have the chicken enchilada soup cooking in the crockpot.

But enough excuses.  Here's the update:

Nate's first Christmas was fantastic!  We had my family over on Christmas eve for a pizza party, cookie decorating, and a showing of Austin's new favorite animated film (which we have watched 6 times this month) A Christmas Carol.  The weather was so great that the kids took Jag on a walk to the park, played football and even stood in our front yard and serenaded our neighbors with Christmas carols.

Here's our packed house on Christmas Eve

Nate chillin' with Grandpa, getting tons of attention from his Aunts, Emily and Sara-Anne

Lovin' the attention

And this is Christmas morning:

Santa's little helper getting a little nap in before brunch.

Coffee with daddy on Christmas morning!

And my favorite.  Adorable.

We had Austin's family over on Christmas morning for brunch and presents.  Nate was so tired from an exciting, fun-filled Christmas eve that he slept through present-opening.  Though we saved a few gifts for him to open up after his nap:

Opening gifts

Look at the chunk!  He's adorable!  (I'm so sorry if I over-use that term...but it's so true!)

Well, I think that's all I have time for tonight.  I would post more if it wasn't for Pintrest.

And my long "to-do" list.

Funday Monday

This is my last Monday of maternity leave.  And I've decided to make EVERY minute of my dwindling maternity leave count.

Today was great.  Nate went to sleep last night happy.  And I mean really happy!  He was so happy he wouldn't finish nursing; he was all smiles and even when I put him in the swaddler (which he usually fights against) and laid him down for bed he just looked around, wide awake and happy.  Then Nate slept in until 7:30am and was...you guessed it...happy!  He was smiling and cooing.  Adorable.

Then after Austin woke up, Nate and Austin and I shared coffee as we did our quiet time.

He's concentrating on the Lord's Word as read by Austin. (Oh, and that toy by his right hand...AMAZING! He loves it!  Thanks Jamie M.)

Then Nate went down for a nice nap in his room!  (He has been sleeping in our room for the last 3.5 months).
While the Nater-Gator was napping, I was baking.  I made some English Muffin Toasting Bread.  It's gotten me excited to start baking again.  Perhaps I'll make a point to do so during his nap.  The bread recipe is super easy and definitely a keeper:

King Arthur English Muffin Toasting Bread

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
• cornmeal, to sprinkle in pan

directions

1) Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and instant yeast in a large mixing bowl.

2) Combine the milk, water, and oil in a separate, microwave-safe bowl, and heat to between 120°F and 130°F. Be sure to stir the liquid well before measuring its temperature; you want an accurate reading. If you don't have a thermometer, the liquid will feel quite hot (hotter than lukewarm), but not so hot that it would be uncomfortable as bath water.

3) Pour the hot liquid over the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl.

4) Beat at high speed for 1 minute. The dough will be very soft.

5) Lightly grease an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan, and sprinkle the bottom and sides with cornmeal.

6) Scoop the soft dough into the pan, leveling it in the pan as much as possible.

7) Cover the pan, and let the dough rise till it's just barely crowned over the rim of the pan. When you look at the rim of the pan from eye level, you should see the dough, but it shouldn't be more than, say, 1/4" over the rim. This will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour, if you heated the liquid to the correct temperature and your kitchen isn't very cold. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 400°F.

8) Remove the cover, and bake the bread for 22 to 27 minutes, till it's golden brown and its interior temperature is 190°F.

9) Remove the bread from the oven, and after 5 minutes turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.

And the finished product.  Yummy!  (Austin showed great restraint and asked me to cut the bread for him instead of just digging in...thanks honey!)

And I rounded out my great day with playtime with Nate, P90X and finishing up a few Christmas presents.  I can't show all of them since some of the recipients have internet access and may check out the blog.  And If you get one of these, please be surprised:

Great Grandma Hope and Nate at Thanksgiving

Side view.  It's not perfect, but I'll work on it!

Well, Nate and I are going to end our day with a nice warm bath (for him, that is).  He loves his baths now and I love seeing him have fun.  What a great way to round out a great day.

Holidays mean lots of photos!

Wow, it was so nice to have a long weekend with Austin.  Although he had to work Thanksgiving night, he had Friday, Saturday and Sunday off, so we got a lot of house-cleaning for up-coming open houses and tours, football watching and lots and lots of black Friday shopping.  (If you know us, you know we didn't set foot in a store at all on Friday.  I did have to pick up diapers for Nate on Saturday and it was still too crazy for me!).  We did however do lots of cleaning and football watching.  

On Thursday after Austin went to work, Nate and I went to Gma Cordes' house and Nate got to spend some time with Great Grandma Cordes, Grandma and Grandpa Kettelkamp, a couple Great (and I mean that in two ways) uncles and lots and lots of aunts and uncles.  Here are a few pictures:

Grandpa Kettelkamp with sleeping Nate.  I was hoping to get one with Grandma too, but didn't get the chance.

Uncle Nick and little Nate passed out on the couch after too much turkey.  How cute!

When Austin was off work on Friday we relaxed at home and watched some football.  You may not believe me, but Nate already loves football.  (I think it's all the movement and colors on the TV).

Definitely NOT sleeping when it's time for some football!  (Look at the double chin!)

Watching the pre-game.  He's going to be an amateur commentator, just like daddy!

I'm loving these next two pictures!  Nate looking up at his daddy.  Isn't that sweet?

And that gorgeous smile!

After a leisurely day at home, we went to his Uncle Pete's house where he got even more attention:

Finally! A picture with him awake!  Nate movin' and groovin' with Grandpa and Grandma Oates

I suppose I could add even more pictures, but I think I've already over-done it!  But it's easy to do when you have such an adorable subject (and yes Nick, you're cute, but I was talking about Nate... :) ).  Hope you enjoyed a little update on the family and I promise next time there won't be quite so many pictures!

Giving thanks

I will not be blogging tomorrow since it is Thanksgiving.

I will also not be joining the crazies who are going to spend their Thanksgiving in line for Black Friday deals or, even worse, actually shopping on Thanksgiving.  This year many stores are opening at midnight, 10pm and even 9pm.  So after Thanksgiving dinner you have a few short hours to digest your meal and chat with family you haven't seen for months before tearing off in your SUV to the nearest shopping center.  (Who am I kidding.  How many people actually chat with their family members in person anymore.  People are more likely to be text-messaging their cousin or facebooking (via smart phone, of course!) their brother who is in the other room watching TV, listening to their I-pod and reading their Nook or Kindle (Or both. At the same time).

Really, how far is that from the truth?

Thanksgiving is a day when we are suppose to be giving thanks, not getting things at the mall.  I am going to spend my Thanksgiving with the people I am thankful for: my family and friends.

And now, in spirit of Thanksgiving, which seems to be as dead as the true meaning of Christmas, I will share with you a few things for which I am thankful:

1. Nathaniel David Oates:  I am thankful that God has blessed us with him.  He has grown up so much since the picture below.  Now he is smiling, cooing and laughing...it's amazing!  He is truly a gift from God and I am thankful for him everyday.  On a lighter note: I am so thankful that he is sleeping through the night- I got 8 straight hours of sleep last night!

Nathaniel David, 1 day old

2. My wonderful husband and our soon-to-be 4 years of marriage: It's hard to believe that it's been that long!  We've had many great memories already and so many more to come.  Austin is such a hard-working and loyal man.  He is so tender and sweet with Nate, but also so strong.  He is a wonderful husband and a great father.  Nate and I are so blessed!

This engagement photo was taken over 4 years ago!

3. Our families-the Bill Oates family and the Kettelkamps.  We have such an amazing and supportive family! 

4. Austin's job, especially his new schedule-weekends off!  We are loving all of the family time!

5. The opportunity for me to go to part-time so that I can spend more time with Nate and we can maximize our time together as a family. 

Well these are just a few of the things I am thankful for, there are many more.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving with your family and not with the retail workers who are missing their family on Thanksgiving!

Extreme couponing and a new family member?

Who knew couponing could be fun?

Really.

I've never watched "extreme couponing," and to be quite honest, in the past I have gotten annoyed when the lady in front of me at the check-out line has some forty coupons and requests "price matches" from ads from other stores. (By the way, Walmart in Marion does that).  I get especially annoyed when the cashier and lady in front of me get into an argument about prices or the fact that she can only use a certain number of the same coupons in one visit.  It's even worse when I'm crunched for time, or when my sweet, precious Nater starts to get fussy.  <--Yes, that does happen.  My baby is just like yours; he cries.

But today I may have to join the couponers; I have experienced the "thrill" of saving money with coupons.  I saved a whole $2.40 with coupons on my weekly grocery budget, and probably about $20.00 more by grocery shopping at my least favorite store--Walmart.  I've found that when I go shopping with Nate I spend more money.  Partly because he's strapped to my body with the Baby Bjorn and I loose some range of motion necessary for strategic grocery shopping and partly because I am afraid if I take too long I will face the stares of all the other shoppers when Nate starts to cry.

To be honest, since Nate has been born I have not been very good at sticking to a budget.  There's cute clothes to get (he is almost out of his 6 month onesies, and he isn't even 3 months yet!) not to mention diapers, wipes and all the other baby necessities.  Also, I have been spending money on thing to make our house look cute for the open houses and then there is my desire to buy stylish clothes since I have not looked cute for the past 9 months.  (Who am I kidding...I wouldn't wear stylish clothes even if I had them.  I live in jeans and sweatshirts!)  But now that I am only going back to work part-time--16 hours a week--I need to do better about sticking to a budget.  So I am going to focus my next few posts on my journey to frugality.  We will see how this experiment goes.

But in other news, there is another male living in our house...our garage actually. (Although he is well-behaved enough that he gets supervised house privileges).  Here is Jag, our "trial dog:"

Jag, 5 months, looking at Austin (who is standing in the corner).  Jag has really taken a liking to Austin!

Jag and Austin.  Austin says it's strange being around a dog that doesn't need to be "tazed" in order to behave.  Just in case anyone is going to call the humane society on us, the tazer is an e-collar and it's not harmful. 

And just for fun, here is a picture of Nate from this morning while I was doing my quiet time.  Isn't he a cutie?

Date night

Austin and I made a few changes to the country song, "Just another day in paradise" by Phil Vasser.  And here it is:


Nate screaming, phone ringing
Anna barking at the squirrel and they're bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the dishwashing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I guess we just won't wash it
even though there's many things...

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Thursday, cat hate (*I'll explain that one later*)
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Pancheros burritos at your parent's house...



So Thursday night Austin and I had arranged for my mom to come over and watch Nate for a couple hours so that we could get out, grab a bite (without it being interrupted by a nursing session) and chat.  It wasn't going to be anything big.  We were going to go to Pancheros or Panera...nothing fancy, but I was looking forward to a little Austin and Cailey time.  Things had been hectic at the Oates house lately.  Nate has been more fussy after eating, Anna (our dog) is feeling a little left out and has been going CRAZY in the backyard (thankfully both of our next door neighbors are gone for the week), we got a few unexpected bills, and the dishwasher started making strange noises.

On the evening of our date night we decided to do a little housework and tear up the carpet in the basement because we were thinking that the cat had started peeing down there.  So Nate and I are upstairs eating again and Austin is in the basement.  Before long I hear him calling up the stairs and to make a long story short, we had to vacate the house for a few hours to let things air out.  The problem was alot worse than we thought.

So I called my mom and cancelled our date night and Nate and I left the house and went to Austin's parents' house.  Austin hauled out all of the old carpet, bleached the floor, opened all the windows, ran the furnace for a few hours and joined us at his parents' house.  Austin picked up Pancheros burritos and we ate our dinner on his parents' couch by the light of a football game on tv.

Just another day in paradise!

But seriously, even though something always seems to be going wrong, life is beautiful.  I am reminded  of that every time I look at my sweet little boy.

I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Where have I been?

You may be wondering what I have been up to this past month (actually, you probably haven't, but in case you have been wondering), well I have been busy laboring, birthing and learning to be a mother to this precious little boy.  Introducing Nathaniel David Oates:

Nathaniel David, 1 day old, in Daddy's arms

Little Nate was born August 31, 2011 at 0133.  He weighed a whooping 8 lbs 3 oz (that's whopping when you consider that my doctor told me that my baby was going to be small- "maybe 6 lbs") and was 20.5 inches long.  I won't go into the details of labor and delivery, but I have to say it wasn't that bad.  It definitely wasn't what I had expected.  When you are pregnant (and I am learning it doesn't stop when you have a child) everyone has an opinion and a story to tell, and it seems like a lot of people enjoy telling their "horror stories." I was expecting labor to be like in the movies, but mine wasn't.  Not that it is something I want to do often, but things went pretty smoothly for me this time.  I worked an 8 hour shift through what I now know were contractions (I thought it was just back pain....and yes, I am a nurse.  I think I was in denial) and didn't go into the hospital until I was 6 cm dilated and 90% effaced.  Part of that was because as the back pain continued throughout the day I called labor and delivery to ask them if they thought that my symptoms sounded like labor and they said (twice, in fact) that "you will know when it's labor."  So I stayed at home alone (Austin was working an evening shift) until I was 6cm and 90%.  First thing I told the nurse that was checking me in was "I'm sorry I came in.  I'm probably not in labor; you will probably send me home, but my husband is at work and is making me come in to get checked out."  And low and behold, a few minutes later the nurse says, "you are going to have a baby tonight."  (I actually didn't have Nate before midnight, but I would have if I had let them break my water sooner...but I wanted to wait for Austin to get to the hospital).

So, to make a long story short.  Nate was born.  And life has not been the same since.  It's amazing.

Fast forward 4 weeks (time really does fly).  Nate is getting big (last week he weighed 9lbs and 5 oz.), and I wish I could say that we are on a routine and I am getting a full nights sleep, that he is nursing perfectly and that I love nursing him.  That is just not the case.  The first two weeks were actually pretty good...Nate slept most of the time and I actually had to wake him up to eat but now it's a different story.  He seems to have a routine, but it's just not the routine that I would like.

Well, that's all the update I have time for right now.  I've got so many things that I should get done while Nate sleeps, but I almost feel guilty for not spending every single moment with him.  This weekend I am throwing my sister a bridal shower and I have lots to still get done for that AND the laundry needs to be done AND I think the dishwasher may have broke, so I may be handwashing dishes now...

But I will leave you with a couple of more recent pictures of Nate:

The picture I took for his birth announement.  About 1 wk old.

Going on his first walk with mommy and daddy (Doesn't daddy look proud?)

Look at those cute rolls...

Taking a break after some fun playing with the activity gym

And I feel bad for posting this, but this is a picture of Nate getting mad during tummy time and lifting his head WAY off the ground.  And when he was only 13 days old!  Must be the protein shakes Austin keeps sneaking him...

Maternity pics

So a few days ago my sister Emily came over and took some pictures of Austin and I (and Baby Oates) with my new camera.  I was hoping to have photoshop by now, but that will have to wait, so I edited the photos with Picasa.  I will post a few of the pictures, but Austin and I have decided on a name and a few of the pictures have the baby's name in them, so those will have to wait...sorry!  :)

Growing baby bump at 35 weeks

Austin doesn't like this one, but it matches the decal we are putting above the crib in the baby's room

I'm being serious and Austin is being a goofball

This is me telling Austin he better shape up....or else....

That's better!

What a small onesie!

Close up

The three of us against our new cedar fence (that we put up for Austin's other "baby," our dog Anna

Austin can't even get his arms around my ginormous belly!

Basketball belly!