Updates in the Shop

I've been on a hat crocheting kick - can't you tell? And I finally got some of my headbands posted...just like the ones in last year's give-away.



I'm pretty happy that now there's a good mix of baby and adult stuff. More stuff to come!

How I'm Feeling: Week 16

Can't write long because we're headed to Ikea because MAMA WANTS MEATBALLS. And oh yeah, maybe some stuff for the house.

So yeah, this whole pregnancy has been about food. Food I want, food I don't want. And lots and lots of Thai food. Spicy food, saucy food. Anything made entirely of MEAT. And salt.

A typical late-night snack? More dinner. I haven't really been wanting snacks or sweets. When I want to eat, I want to EAT. As in hot, dinner food. With sauce. From Thailand.

Did I mention Thai food? Mmmm...

I was having a lot of trouble figuring out what to eat before bed. I didn't want a little something. I wanted a MEAL. But I knew I shouldn't. Ryan would watch me pace back and forth from the couch to the fridge, fridge to the couch, continually coming back empty-handed, complaining that there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to eat. When really, there was plenty of food, just nothing I saw looked appetizing. Which for me, is very abnormal, because non-pregnant me would usually eat the first thing I saw. "Hmm, that looks good. Sure!" Not too picky.

Finally, in my frustration, I would send Ryan to the kitchen. "Find me something to eat! There's NOTHING!" Typical pregnant wife, right? Although I can't remember ever being the typical pregnant wife. I can't remember any other pregnancy so driven by food and cravings and I Don't WANT That and I NEED That Other Thing.

So Ryan would walk to the fridge and the pantry and offer me the same things I just saw, and I would collapse in frustration that I was dying of starvation, and he would just shake his head at me and smile. "So that's what this is like...."

Finally we agreed that toast with blackberry jam (mmmm berries) would suffice when nothing else would, and that's what he was instructed to make me when I was otherwise irrationally inconsolable. Then I bought a big 6-pack of cup of noodles, college-style, and mmmm now THAT is what I want when I need something before bed. It's hot. Like real food. And has a little kick. And perhaps there's even a little salt in it ;) Just maybe.

OK, I really have to go now. We're gathering the troops to get in the car and the smell of Swedish sauces is calling me. Maybe I'll write about everything else that's happening in this pregnancy (which, pretty typical of my pregnancies, is not much).

MEATBALLS!

It's That Time of Year Again

Time for Operation Christmas Child! You can read about this organization and why I like it so much in last year's post.

This year, Lily will be helping me prepare the shoeboxes full of goodies, and I'm planning to include her picture and a note from her in each box, in case any of the recipients want to write her back. I think it will be a really good learning experience for her, and a great lesson in sharing with those who need it - and maybe she'll make a little penpal!

If you'd like to prepare a shoebox of your own, here are the instructions for how to pack your box, and here's where you can find your local drop-off center. This is National Collection Week, so don't dilly dally!

Food Swap

Just took a container of sweet potato soup over to my neighbor's house (Lily is still over there visiting), and wouldn't you know, she sent me home with a big container of lasagna?? I love my neighbors!

Things They Do To Themselves, Part 1

Seems Lily prefers her FACE labeled, rather than the toy bins...

Jacob Playing Peekaboo

Wordless Wednesday

Rockstar

Proudly showing off his first tattoo.

New Stuff for Sale at Etsy

It's been a while since I've talked about the shop, but I figure I'd better start promoting it now that people have started their Christmas shopping! Three new things in the shop are a set of coasters, a coffee sleeve, and a Boppy slipcover - all featuring a really cool apples & pears print of which I wish I had 10 more yards. (The matching nursing cover is already gone!)



Coming soon: Headbands, hats, and lots of crocheted goodies. I may even get out my Christmas prints and start whipping up something festive!

(Don't forget, you can always get to the shop or preview its contents in the right-hand column of this blog - or just go there: http://hestermania.etsy.com)

Visiting the Ol' Alma Mater

Saturday, Ryan and I found ourselves back at Rider University for the first time since I graduated 7 1/2 years ago - 1 week before our wedding. That was where we started dating, and now we were bringing our kids back for a visit. So crazy.

It was a beautiful, fall day and we got some great shots of Lily:









Lily was very excited to spend time with Sharon. Look at those smiles!



Rob took this great family shot of us in front of my old dorm (Wright B chicks forever!!!):



And as hard as she tried, Sharon was unable to get a shot of the four of us smiling and looking at the camera (how hard will it be with FIVE?!). Though the shots she DID get are pretty great:



(Hooray for outtakes!)







A group shot of some of the old InterVarsity bunch:



Eric (current Rider IV staff worker), Ryan, Lily, Leah, Rob, Sharon, Kristine