NEW GOALS

Hello!

I have new some new goals...that I want to share with you!

So, first thing.  I want to lose my mom pouch belly.  Maggie is quickly approaching ONE! (AHHHH! give me a moment to freak out with excitement and wonder at how that happened so fast!), and although I've been back to my pre-pregnancy weight since she was like two or three months old, my body is totally different now (obviously).  So, with thoughts of Wauhop baby number 2 starting to sound like an exciting thing - I don't want to go into that with any extra fat...for a lack of a nicer way to put that.  SO - I am committing to Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30!  I'm not going to do any weird diet or anything, but I just want to kick my booty into gear and shed a little extra fat.  Then I'll go back to my regular 3 or 4 (most likely less intense) workouts a week.  So, that's the first thing.

Second, on the other end of things - Meal Planning!  This year, a goal of mine was to cook something new every week.  And honestly, I've succeeded in that area pretty well thus far - and, I have loved it!  Now, I want to start being both more organized and more frugal with my meal planning.  I want to plan two weeks of meals (8 meals), and do pretty much all the shopping at the beginning of the first week!  This week's menu (in no particular order):

Chicken and Dumplings (crockpot)

Cilantro Thai Chicken and Rice

Cheesy White Chicken Enchiladas

Mustard Chicken and Red Potatoes

Fried Egg Quesadillas and Chips and Salsa

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Grilled Shrimp Stir fry with Potatoes

Tortellini 

Yum!!  Can't wait to eat all of this up!

Next, writing!  I have about three children's books "in the works."  I've always wanted to be a writer.  I studied English in school (should have studied journalism, but O well).  And I really want to start writing now.  Robert is super busy with school and work and everything, so it's really a great time.  Mags goes to bed at 7 and I need to utilize my time and get writing!  I'm excited and also a little nervous about this venture...but mostly excited!  *Let me know if you want to be a proofreader (especially those of you who read a lot to your little ones)!

Lastly, I want to read more.  Plain and simple, I want to make more time to read good books.

So, if you see me, ask me how those things are going!  I'd appreciate it :)

Have a wonderful day!!

**(O. Also, I changed my blog format because some had said they couldn't leave comments...?  so, I think that might work better now!)

Diary of a Stay At Home Mom: My Morning Thought...

I just put Maggie down for her morning nap.  And as I held her for just a minute before sitting in her bed, I was praying for her future and for her salvation.  Suddenly it occurred to me that I sort of presume on the Lord's grace.  I think that many times when I pray for her salvation, when I pray that she will hate her sin, see her need for the Savior, submit to the Lord, love His church, and live her life as a worshipper of Christ...I just assume that that will definitely happen.  On one hand, I feel like that is due to great faith and confidence in the Lord's kindness, compassion, and love!  On the other hand I feel like it's because I have become complacent at the thought of the greatness of salvation.  Yet again I feel so humbled by the blessed life of mommying!

What do you think?  Do you ever feel like that?  Praise the Lord that He is sovereign and that the gracious Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf.  Salvation truly is a miraculous and amazing gift!  God is so gracious to save sinners, like me.  And I trust and pray for the future salvation of my baby Maggie.

Hope you have a great day!  God is so good!

Chickpea Chicken Soup for my Chica

Lately I've been trying to bring a lot of variety into Maggie's diet.  I'm always trying new combos of fruit and it's exciting every time we can add new foods into her menu - like CHEESE!  It's a favorite of mine, and thus far proved to be a favorite of hers.  She will eat almost anything if I melt some cheese on the top!  To be honest, though, I usually just make stuff up for her, like whatever sounds good or what might go ok together or what can I add to make it more nutritious (like some sneaky spinach!)...  Last week I blended sweet potatoes, avocado, and a small apple and she totally loved that random conglomeration!  But, this week I thought I'd try an actual baby food recipe.  I ended up tweaking it a bit to fit what I could find at my TJs/what I thought would be good, and Maggie loved the result!  So, if you have a little one, you should try it!  It's yummy (to a baby), nutritious, and easy to make!

Ingredients:

1 can of organic garbanzo beans, drained (15oz)
1/2 clove of garlic, minced (*I used a whole clove, but I think it was a little too much)
2 small or 1 large potato, peeled and cubed
1 small onion (or less) chopped
2 tbsp of olive oil
3.5 cups of water
1/2 cup of boiled organic chicken, shredded

Directions:

Saute the garlic and onion in the olive oil for a few minutes.
Add in the beans (drained) and the potatoes.  Then add in the water.
(You can add the chicken now or just add it straight into the blender with the soup [gross. i know.])
Simmer for 15-20 minutes/until the potatoes are soft enough to blend.
Blend it up.  Yum?

Let it cool and it's ready to go**.  I served it to Maggie with a slice of wheat bread.  And, from what I can tell she definitely enjoyed it!  So, try it if you want!

[**cottage cheese or whipping cream/milk is optional.  I added a smidge of cottage cheese to bring some creaminess, and also to make it less watery (you also might need to add some other thickening agents such as oatmeal cereal, depending on the consistency).  ALSO, if you are going to freeze it, do so sans "cream" and add the cottage cheese or what not as you serve it.]    

A Week Without Daddy

A week without Daddy is a sad week, indeed.

Mommy and Maggie sleep with less ease.

A week without Daddy means no strong, tickling hands

And big bear hugs are in high demand.

A week without Daddy is not our favorite week,

But tomorrow he gets back and we will go out to eat!

...OK, obviously a work of art!  But I couldn't justify any more time spent on thinking up rhymes.  Needless to say, though, I have been missing my man something fierce!  There is something about the knowledge of Daddy coming home at the end of the day that really helps to get you through a bought of crying or whining or teething or ??? you name it; but the knowledge of Daddy's absence for an entire week has the opposite effect.  But, tomorrow, he returns!  Yay!  

From the sounds of it, camp was amazing - lots of great ministry, one of one conversations, and fabulous preaching.  There were fun games and a lot of dirty kids.  Robert was one of the "hype" men this year, and he had a lot of fun doing that.  And, I'm SO thankful (despite how much he was missed) that he was able to be there, attending to all of that, and know that I was at home taking care of our baby and apartment...    

I've been thinking that with ministry this sort of thing might be asked of us a lot.  Trying to think about the future and what we might do: take the kids, leave the kids with someone else, don't go?  These decisions do not need to be made today, obviously, but it is something to think about.    My number one responsibility is my husband and children (future tense, obviously since i have only 1 as of right now!) and doing ministry with them as a family is a DREAM!  When they're littler and money is "littler" it can be tough.  But, it's so awesome to know that the Lord provides!  And, He will not call us to anything that is too difficult for us!  So, with all of that in mind, and with me wanting to get to bed...I leave this for another time.  

Goodnight Cyberspace and my few reading friends :)

The Diary of a Stay at Home Mom: A Thankful "Dr. Mom"

Tonight I put my baby girl down for bed and was just really overwhelmed by how much I love her.

I am so thankful for her.  She is such a beautiful girl.  She is incredibly sweet.  She is so smart and getting smarter.  The girl loves her some drama, but in time I pray that we can harness that for her good and the Lord's glory.  She is my morning, noon, and night right now - and I love it!

Since we've been back from vacation (almost two weeks) Maggie has been sick.  First, we were unsure of what she was dealing with and eventually learned she had "roseola" - basically it was a high fever (103ish) for 3 days and then when it broke (on Thursday night) she developed a complete body rash for a couple days.  We had a few days of relief over the weekend and on Monday, but Tuesday she started into a pretty fierce runny nose.  At first I attributed that to teething, but as it lingered it was clear she had yet another virus.  She now has a gnarly cold, with a hoarse, barking cough - and I tell you it is one of the saddest sounds.  You can hear how sore her throat is when she cries, and it really does break my heart.

It's super hard to have a sick little baby when you are a new mom; at least for this new mom.  I think I have said "I don't know what to do for you" (or some variation of that)  more than 100 times these past two weeks.  When she can talk or point to what's bothering her, I think it'll be much less difficult...or at least take out a lot of the guess work.  I'd go to the moon and back to make her happy, but this week what she needed most from me was patience (which I definitely lacked at times) and a lot of cuddle time, which I was so happy to do!

But, all of this to say...these two weeks have made me INCREDIBLY thankful for a healthy baby!  How kind is the Lord to give me the gift of a healthy baby girl - all of her organs functioning and bones straight and everything doing what it is supposed to be doing when it is supposed to do it!  That is a miracle, babies are a miracle; there is so much that could go wrong, but the Lord so graciously has given us this gorgeous, healthy girl!  That's not to say that that will continue, or our other children will be that way as well, although we do pray for that - but right now I couldn't be more grateful for His kindness in my girl, Maggie!

I really do hope my role of "Dr. Mom" comes to an end soon, but children truly are a blessing from the Lord and I am so in love with my lovey little blessing!  Hope everyone has enjoyed this sunny week!

Kauai 2012 part 2

More Kauai...

Zip-line video!  (did i mention it was pouring rain during half of this adventure!  thankfully not during this video, otherwise we might have ruined our camera!)

Kauai food court.  Obviously a highlight!

Waimea Canyon.  The "Little" Grand Canyon.

Robert went surfing!

And Maggie ate some sand...haha.  O well.

I love her fat, little nose.

Goodbyes are hard...

"Sister's Forever!"

Maggie's Aunt and Uncles (so weird my siblings are aunts and uncles).

One last family picture in this Paradise before a DAY of travel :)

What a great trip!!  Thank You, Lord, for safety and family and sunshine!  If you want to know more about our trip, just ask!  And now, we are very glad to be home!!!

THE END!

Kauai 2012 (part 1)

We had such a GREAT vacation!  Family, beach, zip-line, pool, sun, and lots of food - sounds amazing, right!  I'm so thankful to my grandparents for taking us and my whole family on this trip.  It was such a blessing from the Lord and such a special time!  So instead of a long narrative about all of the details about our vacation, here are a bunch of pictures.  Enjoy!

First day at the beach!

Maggie's fun new pool float!

She's too sweet!

My grandparents = awesome!  They started it all :)

My family minus my dad (who was taking the pic).

All of us!  The Bowens, Morales', Smiths, Watsons, and Wauhops!

Anniversary Date Night!!  Seriously some of the best food I've ever eaten, and I SO loved being alone with my man for 24 whole hours!!

A gorgeous hike on the coast in Poipu!

Crazy fun zip-line tour with Kauai Backcountry Adventures! (video to come!!)

I realized this was getting a little long...so, Kauai 2012 part 2 coming up.  Stay tuned!

Shout Out!!

I have a few friends who are great, entrepreneurial stay at home moms, and I just wanted to give them a  little shout-out today!  Check out their websites/blogs/products...

First up, my neighbor and friend Rebecca Leon @ Go Green Treasures.  She makes tons of really cool and beautiful wreaths for literally every occasion.  She can customize them, as well, to fit your specific need.  She also sells lots of homemade jewelry!  Check her out!

Next is my friend Monica Mehringer @ Hello Brielle.  Check out her blog and her etsy!  She makes (and sometimes even gives away) super cool prinatbles (invitations, party decor, etc.) like the one below!  She is very talented and would make a great addition to any event you might be having, so definitely check her out! 

Lastly, for today, is my friend and college roommate, Caiti Garter @ Knots For You Crochet.  She makes ADORABLE headbands, bonnets, hats, all sorts of things for your baby!  And she's a photographer - mega talented.  But anyway, you should definitely check her out as well!

the sweetest little laugh

Maggie LOVES her daddy.  I'm rather fond of him, myself ;)  I love watching the two of them together; they are my two most favorite people - ever, and they make quite the duo.  Robert gets the biggest kick out of making her laugh, and this was a sweet moment they had the other night after bathtime... So precious.  Hope you enjoy it.

A "Relaxing?" Family Hike

Here's our baby girl, just catching a few zzz's while mommy and daddy have a fun hike in
the sun on Memorial day!!

,

I have 4 other videos I really wanted to load of the sweet Mags, but for some reason it's not letting me? So, for now, this will have to do...  I will try again later, but I've officially wasted far too much time trying for now.  Off to finish the dishes before the babe awakes :)

DATE DAY!!!

It's been a while since I've posted...my computer is old, and sometimes it won't let me use the "Blogger" website (or Fossil or look at Facebook pics, etc? Random!)  Anyway, without further ado - DATE DAY!

Robert and I have had a few dates since Maggie has been born, Sem Banquet and another dinner.  But, for his graduation gift I wanted to plan a super fun DAY for just the two of us.  So, the wonderful Amanda Taylor (and Emily for a little, too!) watched our sweet little one while the two of us celebrated together.  We seriously had the best time!!

Up first - MB2 Raceway!  MB2 is legit go-kart racing - so much fun and pretty intense.  You have to sign a waiver that basically says I won't sue if I die; but, on the up-side, you get to pick cool racer names.  Robert was Bobcat and I was Bobcat's Wife, haha.  I was pretty scared before we raced, and for good reason.  Basically, I almost killed someone, haha.  Two guys wrecked in front of me and I didn't have time to put my brakes on and I literally ramped up on top of this guy and his car!  It was terrifying!  The rest of the race I drove at a crawling pace, letting everyone lap me...it was a 14 lap race, and I completed 8 laps!  Robert came in 2nd place, though!  A highlight for sure, though, was that we saw Steve Carrel with his wife and family there, having a family birthday party! So, racing was a blast!

Next - We headed to the Americana in Glendale!  We walked around a little and then had an early dinner at the Cheesecake Factory!  YUM!! We had a gift-card, but decided to "share:" fried macaroni (appetizer), Miso salmon with mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas, and Adam's Peanut-butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake - um YES!  It was AMAZING.  I'm hungry now...I need a snack.

Then - I got Robert a gift-card for The Art of Shaving , so we stopped in there.  He got some gear? is that a proper term?  He got some stuff for shaving - very legit, gentlemanly, "luxurious" shaving, haha.  He was pretty excited; it was cute!  And, bonus, his face smells amazing these days :)

Last - We had some movie tickets from Costco and we went to go see Avengers in 3D!  It was our first time with 3D and it was pretty cool.  I probably prefer regular viewing, but it was definitely a fun one to see in 3D - tons of action!

We came home to our beautiful baby sleeping soundly!

Thank you, Lord, for an amazing husband to share this grace of life called marriage!  It truly is a gift from the Father, and I am so grateful for every second of it!  Next week we head to Kauai!!  We will celebrate our third anniversary and see all of my family - we are really looking forward to spending a lot more time together!!

Happy Half-Birthday, Maggie Grace: 6 months!

Six whole months!  Half a year!  On one hand it completely flew by; and on another, I can hardly believe she's only been with us for that short of a time!  My baby girl is (was...since this is a late post and she will be 7 months a week from today) 6 months old!

At her 6 month appointment she weighed in at a "petite" 13lbs and 6.5oz, which put her in the 9% for weight!  And for height she was just a hare past 25in, making her in the 36% for height!  She hasn't quite doubled her birth weight yet, but we are getting there...

She is crawling faster and sitting like a champ!  I love her adventurous little personality!

She is a CRAZY wiggle worm!  I think her tiny size, too, makes it hard to hold on to her.  She just kind of squirms her way out of your arms.  She is busy and so much fun!

Teething.  Teething.  Teething - Boo. Nap-Ruiner. Crankiness. Sad...  I try and tell her (and myself) that teeth are worth it and allow you to enjoy a wondrous many splendid things in the future!

(spoiler alert for the 7mo post to come soon...she finally got her two bottom teeth!!  Thank You, Jesus!)

She loves water bottles, and the park, and my hair (that I cut off :( )...

First 80's party...Check!  And rocked it ;)

First beach trip (was that this month?)

She went in the pool and really enjoyed it...mostly!  

We got to see family from NoVa - Grammy, Poppy, Uncle Tim, Aunt Joni, and Jake!  And watch Daddy graduate from Seminary!

We tried lots of new foods this month...Sweet Potatos, Carrots, Zuccini, Mangos (favorite!), Pears, Apples, Squash...!

She gives kisses now, and that is pretty awesome!!  Big, slobbery, open-mouth kisses!

It's hard to remember what was "last" month and what was this about to be 7 month stuff.  But, I can tell you that watching your child totally discover the world - seeing her basically every second of her waking life, is unbelievably awesome!!  Watching her eyes light up, seeing what she does and doesn't like, what makes her laugh, what makes her cry, going after something she's not sure she can reach, her eyes scanning the room for what to get into next, tasting, hearing, seeing, feeling things for the very first time...I get to be there for all of it - every day!  Yes, being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever been blessed with.  But it is by far the most AMAZING thing (besides marrying Robert [cause and affect]) that I will ever do in this life!  Maggie is a little person that looks a lot like me and the one that I love and she is growing and learning new things all the time!  It seems everyday she surprises me with what she can do!  I cannot kiss her enough.  I can't get enough of her little laugh - AH, it is the sweetest thing!  I don't really understand the saying, "The world is your oyster," but the world is certainly Maggie's jungle gym to explore and discover these days.

I love being your mommy, Maggie Grace!  God was so kind to let me hold and mold and love you, little girl!  It's already and only, at the same time been six wonderful months with you, and I pray for thousands more. 

Congratulations, Husband!!

Last Sunday, May 13, my amazing husband, Robert Wauhop, graduated from the Master's Seminary with his MDiv (Masters of Divinity)!  This was a day that we had been excitedly anticipating since, well, since we've been married... maybe even before that!  That's when our seminary journey started - less than a month after our wedding we headed out in the good old Lexus, made the drive across the country, and arrived here, at the Master's Seminary!  Three years later I hear these glorious words: "Robert Wauhop, Summa Cum Laude!"  That's right, Summa Cum Laude - "with highest honor!" That title is rewarded to those with a GPA of 3.9-4.0...basically he's a genius graduating with a 3.96 (while doing ministry, hanging out with his wife and daughter, and working)!  I can't tell you how excited I was to hear Dr. Mayhue call his name and to see him walk across that stage - and when it happened I was NOT disappointed!  It was such a proud moment and I am so filled with gratitude.

The Lord has provided for Robert and I so faithfully, perfectly, and abundantly throughout our three years in seminary!  We've lived in three totally different, fun places: Castaic, North Hollywood, and now Montrose!  We've been so blessed to serve on the Grace Community Church high school staff for most of our time here, and we LOVE it - our kids and the staff, who are our best friends!  And the best most significant "accomplishment" during our time here is the blessing of our beautiful baby girl!  We're parents!  I still can't believe it sometimes.  Maggie is an amazing addition to our family; we are so crazy about her beautiful face and super fun little personality!  I am extremely thankful and blessed beyond measure!  Above and beyond what we have asked and far far more than we deserve, thank You, Lord!

So, what's next for the Wauhops?  It is official - we are staying here in California while Robert gets his ThM.  And honestly, I'm excited about that!  And honestly, again, I was not so much at first...but it has become really obvious that this is what the Lord has for us.  And bonus, we have a wonderful church, great friends and neighbors - and each other, which is all I need to be happy!  So basically, the ThM is a Masters in theology, which will enable him to teach at a collegiate level and maybe even in a seminary.  He should be done with this degree by January.  After that, we will go to a church...somewhere...hopefully...!  We had some other plans that didn't end up working out, and that is ok, because the Lord is in control.  He didn't call us to this task of seminary and sacrifice to leave us stranded.  So, we are super excited about our future, and fully enjoying each day along the way!  

I am so thankful for you, Robert; for the countless hours of hard work, for the thousands of pages written, the scores of thousands, maybe even millions, of pages read, the late nights, the prayer, the dedication, the sacrifice, the leadership...well done, good and faithful husband!  Enjoy the fruit of your labor.  I love you!!

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Tim. 4:1-2