Lady In Waiting

So this is Amy's Sis-in-Law hacking into her blog..with her permission of course. She just asked me to update all of you eager beavers who are interested in her happenings. So she is in labor...dilated to a 5 (last I was updated) and her epidural is in. Don't we love those! So sometime today there will be a new Barton addition to the family. We hope all is well with this early baby and good luck Amy!

Another lame update...

So my computer is still crashed and I am going through withdrawls with it...ugh! We are all doing great around here though...I did, however, spend the night in the hospital on Thursday with contractions coming every 4 minutes...for 12 hours...and at only 35 weeks! They finally stopped at around 5 or 6 am and I only dialated to a 2 (from nothing earlier that day)...so they did do some damage but not too much. Also, my Dr. put me on strict bedrest for my high blood pressure that just came out of nowhere...I had been doing so good this entire pregnancy and I thought I was going to be okay and just like that...BOOM...Bedrest again...ugh! We are just taking things right now one day at a time and hoping for some more cooking of this baby!! Wish us luck!!! If I can make to September I'll be good with that!

No blogging for me...

My computer crashed the other day and I am without my blogging and facebooking...poor me! Good thing we headed over to the in laws tonight! I think we are getting it fixed some time next week...

Cherries and a Pedicure...

Here is my very first attempt at bottling anything...


I remember when I was little sitting at our counter begging for some bottled cherries, with extra juice. My parents bottled so many of these every year and we loved them...but I don't think they have bottled cherries for 15 or so years...and I was having a craving! Go figure! Below is the recipe exactly how I did it...I will admit that the color isn't how I remember but they still taste good...I hope you will be brave and try them! The juice is the best part...we used to mix it with 7-up or sprite...I think it would be good with some white grape juice and some diet lemon-lime soda...YUM!

Bottled Cherries:

First I sterilized my jars (pints) in the dishwasher. Then, I cleaned and stemmed my cherries...I left the pits in for the sake of being easy. I made a simple syrup which consisted of 2 parts water to 1 part sugar and brought that to a boil. I packed the jars with the raw cherries almost to the rim and then filled the jars with the hot syrup, leaving a half inch space at the top. I put on the lids and rings and them processed them for 25 minutes in a steam/dry processor. Voila!!! You have bottled cherries...super easy right? We just tasted them on Saturday and they are really good...I can't wait to make the yummy drink with the juice!


Now for the pedicure...This morning I woke up to the sweetest note from Taylor saying that she wanted to give me a pedicure and anything else I wanted. How exciting for me!! When I picked them up from school, she had the boys right on their homework and was changing the laundry over for me and everything...she set up this little salon in her room and we were ready to roll! She is such a thoughtful little girlie...

Everything happens for a reason...

RIGHT?!?

So, as many of you know, I have been in the Primary Presidency, serving as secretary, for about 8 months now...and I just got released today!!! Have you ever had a calling that you absolutely loved and looked forward to fulfilling? For me, this was MY calling and I truly, truly loved it! Me being released was seriously quite a shock...and a difficult pill to swallow! I know I am having this baby soon and I know things are about to be turned upside down but I never imagined that I would be released from my calling in order to take care of my family. Don't get me wrong, family is and always will be MY first priority, but this Primary calling was really important to me as well. I have such a better appreciation for our Primary organization and such a love for all of the kids as well...I will miss being in Primary every single Sunday for a long, long time. I do however, believe that things always happen for a reason...the reason for this particular life event is yet to be determined and I am sure I will appreciate my lesson learned even more...but for right now, I am just plain sad! For all of my ward friends...I will miss your kids and their happy faces! And, I am so sorry you had to see me cry for the entire day today...it was a really sad day for me and I am really, really hormonal!

Chewy Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies...

Okay...so I haven't posted in awhile because I have been "Nesting"...I know...I know...way too early for that but I just can't help it...I talked to my sister in law, Ashley yesterday and she is TOTALLY nesting but she's only about 7 months so for her...it's okay...for me...not so much. (It was so weird, the instinct just hit me yesterday afternoon and I can't stop) Everywhere I read it says "nesting" is a sign of impending labor...CRAP!!! I still have 3-4 weeks until I am considered full term and I DO NOT WANT A NICU BABY...CRAP!!!

My "nesting" has included me cleaning all of the blinds...cleaning out the vacuum, filter and all...vacuuming every single crevis in this entire house...dusting the really tall stuff...buying freezer food the Chris and the kids...stocking up on cereal...and so on!

Anyways, these cookies are probably our favorite! I will make a batch of these and they are pretty much gone in a couple of days around here...they are super easy too! I have tried different variations like chocolate chips or butterscotch and chocolate chips but we all agree...the original is the best!


Chewy Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies...

Cream together:

1 cup butter flavored shortening (no substitutions)

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

Add:

2 eggs

2 Tbsp. milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

2 cups flour

3 cups oats

1 pkg. butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. I use the medium pampered chef scoop and bake them for 9-10 minutes. Cookies will be soft and chewy. Store them in an airtight container...if they last that long!

Some Updates...

So here goes...I have been to the Dr. today for my 32 week checkup (he says I'm 32 weeks...I still think I'm 33 weeks) anyways, with Jenner I had PIH and mild Gestational Diabetes and an irritable uterus...I was put on bedrest at 32 weeks and my water broke at 37 weeks. Taylor was my only baby born at 40 weeks, the others were all at 37 weeks...and I go into labor by myself, no inductions. So my blood pressure has been a little high and I have mild gestational diabetes...I have also been having some good contractions and some major pelvic pressure...I thought I was destined to some bed rest and I had tried to prepare myself for it...BUT, everything came back in the CLEAR and I am doing just great!!! I seriously couldn't be more excited about this...and...I don't go in again until the 19th cuz my doc will be out of town all next week...by the time I see him again, I will be one day short of 35 weeks and with my past track record, I'll probably have this baby at 37 weeks as well. Basically what I am trying to say is...I think I am extremely lucky to be at this point and doing so well, we all thought that I would have higher blood pressure numbers by now, with protein output and I would be put on bedrest...WAHOOOO that I am not! A little shout out to me!!!

I also took Jenner in for a weight check up and check this out...she isn't even on the charts anymore...she weighs only 21.7 lbs at almost 2 years old! She is so little and so petite but don't let her size fool ya...she is a red head through and through!!!

Now for some pics...

This was the scene the other afternoon at my house...Jenner in her TuTu, holding the snakes round her ankles!

How funny is that?

She loved it and got mad at the boys when they put the snakes away!

How about this TuTu...Thank you to Ashley for handing it down to us...

A new ballet move while playing War with the boys!