How We Met Sweet Finley Anne

You may not have noticed, but I've taken a small hiatus from blogging for probably the best reason ever: caring for two beautiful babes! Finley Anne took her first breath at 3:19 a.m. on Sunday, January 25, and, man, was she ready to greet the world. I labored at home for about four hours before we decided to call Chad's parents to pick up Nora so we wouldn't have to worry about the hand-off as the labor progressed. Good thing we called when we did because during the 25 minutes it took his parents to get to our house my contractions went from 8 to 3 minutes apart, at which point I made Chad speed race down the highway. When we got to the hospital, I pleaded my case for an epidural - begged, I think, at one point - but baby girl wasn't having any of that. In less than 45 minutes, Chad and I met sweet Finley and fell in love. Hard. Since Nora's labor was so slow moving, we didn't expect Finley's to be so quick! I may have harmed a nurse's hand in the process, Chad's too, but Finley came au natural. Y'all, there are no words for the pain, but, the labor experience and recovery were a thousand times better than the first time around. Maybe it's because my body was all "Been there, done that", but I'm continually amazed by what the human body is designed to do. God is so good. I'm so thankful for the two precious gifts that make me a mama. Nora Evelien and Finley Anne, I love you. 

You mean I have to make dinner, too?

Yes, yes I do. Sometimes I find that, after a long day, cooking dinner feels comparable to climbing Everest. But, the family's got to eat! Here are a few of my most recent go-to dinner recipes. Disclaimer: These do not adhere to any New Year Resolution or Whole-30 diet. They do, however, satisfy this pregnant mama's hunger and need for quick and easy. 

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chile { I chose low sodium options for the canned goods the second time around as I found the original recipe to be too salty for my preference. Great served over rice! }

Creamy Chicken and Rice { I skipped the wine and bay leaves and substituted mushrooms for the carrots. Loads of leftovers to freeze! }

Skillet Lasagna { I'm not a red meat girl, so I substitute ground turkey for the beef. I usually skip the onion and cheese and add either chopped zucchini or bell peppers. Also, double the recommended portion of tomato paste. }

Greek Chicken Salad { Nothing special here, but I do marinate the chicken overnight in olive oil and a Greek spices mixture from my hometown. You can buy your own spices here. They ship! }

Grilled Cheese and Soup { Again, certainly not anything gourmet, but oh-so-delicious and perfect for these cold nights! I'm a grilled cheese dunker, and my favorite soup right now is Trader Joe's Tomato & Roasted Red Pepper! } 

What are your favorite weeknight crowd pleasers? I'd love to hear! 

Messy Motherhood

A year ago today, Chad and I welcomed Nora Evelien into our lives. We are so, so grateful for her. Seriously, the love I have for her is overwhelming! My favorite thing about her is her constant, abundant joy. I hope that never fades.

But this post isn't just about my sweet girl. It is also about motherhood. Messy motherhood.

A couple weeks ago, our closest family and friends gathered to help us celebrate Nora's birthday. I had, in my mind, put together a pretty decent party plan. Thank you, Pinterest. Woodland themed, the place was decorated with pinecones, acorns, fresh flowers, (homemade) owl cupcakes, animal masks, activities for the littles, and a spread of yummy snacks. I so wanted it to be the best party for Nora. That's what good mothers do, right?

And then this mom put a cupcake adorned with a lone candle in front of my little. As I turned my head to prompt Chad's rendition of "Happy Birthday", what did Nora do? She grabbed the flame, of course. And so I spent the second half of her party nursing my teeny burn victim while trying to appear calm, cool, and collected. That's what good mothers do, right?

Well, I wouldn't know. What I really wanted to do was tell everyone to go home. I wanted to retreat back home where I could comfort my hurting little. I wanted to cry with her. I wanted to sulk that her party didn't go as planned and she missed her fun, cupcake, "Happy Birthday" song, and opening gifts. I was far from calm, cool, or collected. I was a mess.

That's kind of how motherhood goes, isn't it? You have an idea, a plan, of what to expect, but that rarely happens. Instead, breastfeeding doesn't work out, the blowout diaper occurs when you forgot the backup onesie, teething interrupts your REM cycle for weeks straight, Sunday night goodbyes grow increasingly difficult with each passing work week, and your child decides to play with fire when you turn your head. Motherhood is hard, unpredictable, and most certainly messy. 

But, as I was so recently reminded, God's grace is sufficient for even the messiest of mothers. His mercies are new every morning. Achieving "good mother" status is not something for which I can strive. Rather, it's something that is already within me because God's power is within me. When I am weak, He is strong. I, for one, am grateful for this. So, bring on year, and baby, number two!